IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


k 


A 


{./ 


^  .^. 


^ 


:a 


1.0 


1.1 


|25 

12.2 


Hi 


140 


Hiotographic 

^Sciences 

Corporation 


% 


^■<*> 


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«» 

*c. 


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33  WIST  MAM  STRUT 

WIUTH.N.Y    )4SM 

(7U)  •73-4503 


^\<^ 
^ 


\ 


,<b 


^:^ 


^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inttituta  for  Hiatorical  Microraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductiona  hiatoriquaa 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  NotM/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibllograpliiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  liat  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  boat 
originai  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  significantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


0 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covars/ 
Couvartura  da  couiaur 


I     I    Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastauria  at/ou  paiiiculAa 


□   Covar  titia  missing/ 
La 


titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


r~~|    Colourad  maps/ 


Cartaa  gAographiquas  wn  couiaur 


□    Colourad  ink  (i.e.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  couiaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  bkiua  ou  noira) 

|~~1    Colourad  plataa  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  couiaur 

Bound  with  othar  material/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autras  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  shadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  rs  liura  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distortion  ie  long  de  la  marge  IntMeure 

Blenk  leavae  added  during  reatoratlon  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poeeible.  tfteee 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certainea  pagea  Manchee  aioutiee 
lore  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dana  la  texte, 
meis,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  cee  pagea  n'ont 
pas  At*  filmAae. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentairea  suppiAmentairea.- 


L'Institut  a  mierofilmA  la  meiileur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  At*  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  dAtaiis 
da  cat  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithoda  normale  de  fllmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


r~n   Coloured  pages/ 


D 
0 
D 
D 
D 
D 


Pagea  da  couiaur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommagAes 

Pagea  restored  and/oi 

Pagea  restauriaa  at/ou  peilicuMea 


p~|   Pagea  damaged/ 

r~|   Pagea  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pagea  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pagea  dAcoiorAea,  tachetAes  ou  piquAea 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  dAtachAea 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  print  variaa/ 
Quality  inAgaia  de  I'lmpreaaion 

Includee  auppiamentary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  supplAmantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  MItion  disponlble 

Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
slips,  tiaaues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  peges  totalement  ou  partiailement 
obscuroiee  par  un  feuillet  d'erratd,  une  pelure. 
etc..  ont  AtA  fiimAea  i  nouvaau  de  fe^on  A 
obtenir  la  meiileure  image  possible. 


Th« 
toi 


Th( 
poi 
of 
filr 


on 

bei 
thf 
sio 
oti 
fin 
sio 
or 


Th( 
shi 
JW 
wh 


This  item  Is  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rAduction  IndlquA  ol-deaaous. 


10X 

14X 

1IX 

2ZX 

2SX 

SOX 

y 

1 

12X 

IfX 

aw 

24X 

UK 

»x 

'• 

itailt 
IS  du 
nodifiar 
r  una 
imaga 


Tha  copy  filmad  hara  has  baan  raproducad  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of  : 

National  Library  of  Canada 


Tha  imagas  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  bast  quality 
possibia  considaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grAca  A  la 
gAnArositt  da: 

BibliothAque  nationale  du  Canada 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  At*  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axamplaira  f ilmA.  at  an 
conformity  avac  las  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  last  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copias  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
first  paga  with  a  printad  or  illustratad  impras- 
sion.  and  anding  on  tha  last  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illustratad  imprassion. 


Laa  axamplairas  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  ast  imprimia  sont  fiimis  en  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axamplairas 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  comman9ant  par  la 
pramiAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'imprassion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darniAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 


Tha  last  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
ahall  contain  tha  symbol  -^  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  applias. 


Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
darniAra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  — »» signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
symbols  ▼  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas.  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  reduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  filmad 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  h%nd  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  mxny  framea  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atra 
filmte  i  das  taux  da  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
da  I'angia  supAriaur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  an  prenant  la  nombre 
d'images  nicessaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithoda. 


errata 
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I  ! 


CATECHISM 


09     THE 


<f  - 


istorg  0f  ^eWottuManlr, 


WITH    AN   INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER 


OI7    TBI 


DISCOVERY   OF  AMERICA 


■*^ 


BY   THB 


ANCIENT    SCANDINAVIA7TS. 


X 

V, 
4 


U^fTENDED    CHIEFLY    FOB    THE    USE    OF    SCHOOLS. 


J» 


.    BY   WM.  CHAS.  ST.  JOHN. 

(LATS  U.   8.   VZ0B-00N8UL  FOR  THK  BAY  07  OONCXPTIOV.) 


REVISED     EDITION. 


BOSTON: 
PRESS  OF   GEORGE  C.  RAND,  CORNHILL. 

*  K        1866. 


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CATECHISM 


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Wrni    AN   INTRODUCTORY    rilAPTER 


ON    THE 


DISCOVERY   OF   AMERICA 


Br    THE 


ANCIENT    SCANDINAVIANS. 


INTENDED    CHIEFLY    FOR    THE    USE    OF    SCHOOLS. 


BY    WM.  CHAS.  3T.  JOHN. 

(LATE    U.    S.    VICE-CONSUL    FOR   THE    BAY    OF  CONCEPTION.) 


REVISED     EDITION. 


BOSTON: 
TRESS    OF    GEORCjE   c!    RAND,    CORNIIILL. 

1855. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congre«B,  In  the  year  1855,  by 

WILLIAM  CHARLES   ST.  JOHN, 

In  the  Clerk»«  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


'i 


TO 


JOHN  IRVING  RODDICK,  ESQUIRE, 


PRINCIPAL  OF  THE  HABBOR  GBACB  GBAMMAB  SCHOOL, 


tu. 


THE  FOLLOWING  SHEETS 


ARK    CORDIALLY    DEDICATED 


DY 


THE  AUTHOR. 


PREFATORY    NOTE 


Some  years  ago,  while  residing  in  Newfoundland, 
I  was  induced  to  publish  a  brief  history  of  that 
country  drawn  up  in  the  catechetical  form,  and 
adapted  to  the  use  of  schools.  It  got  into  pretty 
general  circulation,  and  was  instrumental,  I  believe, 
in  removing  a  vast  deal  of  ignorance  which  until 
then  prevailed  respecting  one  of  the  oldest  depen- 
dencies of  the  British   Crown. 

Having  now  revised  the  original  edition,  brought 
down  the  narrative  to  the  close  of  last  year,  and 
prefixed  an  Introductory  Chapter  containing  matter 
which,  I  presume,  will  be  interesting  to  readers 
generally,  I  again  oifer  the  little  manual  to  the 
public,  with  the  honest  persuasion  that  the  time 
bestowed  upon  it  has  not  been  thrown  away.  At 
all  events,  this  or  a  similar  synopsis  is  indispensably 
necessary  in  the   schools  of  Newfoundland. 


W.   C.  St.  John. 


Boston^  January^  1855. 


INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTER. 


It  was  long  rumored  that  the  Continent  of 
America  had  been  known  to  Europeans  hundreds  of 
years  prior  to  the  time  of  Columbus.  Traditionary- 
tales  of  transatlantic  voyages  performed  by  the  Scan- 
dinavians in  the  tenth  cttntury,  were  handed  down 
from  father  to  son  for  many  generations.  Some  of 
these,  it  must  be  confessed,  were  so  vague  and  marvel- 
lous as  wholly  to  belong  to  the  region  of  fable ;  while 
others  were  set  forth  with  such  minuteness  of  detail, 
and  accompanied  by  so  many  statements  of  an  astro- 
nomical as  well  as  a  geographical  character,  all  agreeing 
with  indubitable  facts  brought  to  light  by  subsequent 
discovery,  that  it  was  difficult  to  evade  the  force  of 
evidence  which  such  accumulated  testimonies  set 
before  us. 

At  the  instance,  we  believe,  of  that  venerable  phi- 
losopher and  eminent  scientific  traveller,  Alexander 


6 


INTRODUCTORY    CHAPTER. 


Von  Humboldt,  this  curious  and  interesting  question 
has  been  investigated  afresh  by  the  Koyal  Society  of 
Northern  Antiquaries ;  and  it  would  certainly  appear 
from  the  researches  of  these  celebrated  men,  notwith- 
standing the  obscurities  which  enveloped  certain  por- 
tions of  the  narratives  which  claimed  their  attention, 
that  the  Northern  Atlantic  had  been  crossed  on  several 
occasions  at  this  early  period,  first  accidentally,  and  from 
stress  of  weather,  by  which  the  voyagers  were  carried 
westward  far  beyond  the  limits  of  their  destined  haven ; 
and  afterwards,  by  the  voluntary  undertaking  of  enter- 
prising men  who,  like  their  renowned  successors 
Columbus  and  Cabot,  fearlessly  launched  away  upon 
the  bosom  of  the  deep  in  quest  of  distant  and  unex- 
plored regions. 

The  earliest  account  on  record  among  the  numerous 
documents  to  which  the  above-named  society  had 
access,  is  that  of  a  voyage  performed  by  one  Biarne, 
son  of  Heriulf  Bardson,  a  follower  of  Eric  the  lied, 
who,  in  986,  emigrated  from  Iceland  to  Greenland, 
where  he  formed  a  settlement.  Biarne  happened  to  be 
absent  on  a  voyage  to  Norway  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  removal,  but  on  his  return  home  he  immediately 
resolved  to  rejoin  his  parent  though  unacquainted  with 
the  sea  which  he  had  to  traverse.  The  result  of  this 
bold  attempt  is  circumstantially  narrated  in  the  before 
named  documents,  and  we  cannot  do  better  than  quota 
the  substance  of  those  papers  as  given  in  the  London 
Geographical  Journal,  for  1838 :  — 

"  They  (Biarne  and  attendants)  ^et  sail,  but  met 
with  northerly  winds  and  fojjs,  and  afVor  many  days' 


\ 


INTRODUCTORY    CTTAPTER. 


I* 

i 


i 


sail  Inn  tliey  knew  not  whither  they  had  been  carried. 
When  the  weather  aiiain  cleared  up,  they  at  last  saw  a 
land  which  was  without  mountains,  overgrown  with 
wood,  and  having  many  gentle  elevations.  As  this  land 
did  not  correspond  to  the  description  of  Greenland, 
they  left  it  to  larboard,  and  continued  sailing  two  days, 
when  thev  saw  another  land  which  was  flat,  and  over- 
grown  with  wood.  From  thence  they  stood  out  to  sea, 
and  sailed  three  days  with  a  S.  W.  wind,  when  they 
saw  a  third  land,  which  was  high  and  mountainous  and 
covered  with  icebergs  (glaciers)  ;  they  coasted  along 
the  shore  and  saw  that  it  was  an  island.  They  did  not 
go  on  shore,  as  Biarne  did  not  find  the  country  to  be 
inviting.  Bearing  away  from  this  island,  they  stood 
out  to  sea  with  the  same  wind,  and  after  four  days' 
sailing  with  fresh  gales  they  reached  Heriulfsnes  in 
(rrecnland." 

**  About  ten  years  after  this,"  continues  the  same 
authority,  *'  Biarne  paid  a  visit  to  Eric,  Earl  of  Nor- 
way, and  told  him  of  his  vovaue,  and  of  the  unknown 
lands  he  had  discovered.  lie  was  blamed  by  many  for 
not  havinjT  examined  these  countries  more  accurately. 
On  his  return  to  Greenland,  there  was  much  talk 
about  undertaking  a  voyage  of  discovery.  Leif,  a  son 
of  Eric  the  Red,  bought  Blame's  ship,  and  ecjuipped  it 
with  thirtv-five  men,  amonii  whom  was  a  German  named 
Tyrker,  who  had  long  resided  with  his  father,  antl 
who  had  been  verv  fond  of  Leif  in  his  childhood.  In 
the  year  1000  they  commenced  the  projected  voyage, 
ami  nnnejirsf  to  tlv  Ifin*f  which  lUarno  had  seen  last. 
Tliev  cast  aiuhor  and  went  on  shore." 


8 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER. 


Tlie  description  which  these  navigators  gave  of  this 
country,  and  of  the  various  lands  which  they  visited  in 
succession  as  they  coasted  along  shore,  perfectly 
agreed  with  what  had  previously  been  given  by  the 
adventurous  Biarne.  Leif,  however,  pushed  his  dis- 
coveries much  farther  than  Biarne  —  reached  a  land 
that  abounded  in  grapes,  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of 
Vinland.  Here  he  remained  during  the  winter,  and 
returned  to  Greenland  the  spring  following. 

In  1002,  a  brother  of  Leif 's,  named  Thorwald,  under- 
took a  voyage  to  the  far  west.  He  and  his  companions 
arrived  safely  at  Vinland ;  they  found,  and  for  a  time 
occupied,  the  very  huts,  or  Leifsbooths,  which  their 
predecessors  had  erected  ;  explored  much  of  the  coun- 
try, continuing  therein  two  whole  years  ;  and  finally, 
coasting  their  way  eastward  towards  home,  fell  in  with 
the  Skrellings,  or  Esquimaux,  with  whom,  as  the 
chronicler  relates,  "  they  came  to  blows,"  in  which 
rencontre  Thorwald  lost  his  life,  and  his  remains  were 
buried  on  a  promontory  which  he  had  admired  a  day 
or  two  before  for  its  pictures(|ue  beauty.  Upon  this 
promontory,  or  point  of  land,  the  survivors  erected  a 
number  of  crosses,  naming  it  Crossness  "  in  all  time 
coming."  AVe  are  told  further  that  Thorstein  Ericson, 
a  brother  of  the  deceased,  fitted  out  a  ship  with  the 
view  to  fetchinrj  home  the  remains  of  Thorwald,  but 
was  frustrated  in  the  attempt  by  a  succession  oi' adverse 
gales  which  eventually  drove  him  upon  the  western 
settlement  of  Greenland,  where  he  died  <luring  the 
winter. 

The  next  year,  one  Thorfinn,  a  person  of  great  sub- 


stau': 
dt}pa 

f  westc 
enco 
the  \ 
name 

'  three 
they 
the  R< 
rcifre 
abun 
bade 
retra 
at  M 
land- 
foxes 
arrivi 


INTRODUCTORY    (HIAPTER. 


9 


of  this 
lited  in 
rfectly 
by  the 
lis  dis- 
a  land 
lame  of 
er,  and 

under- 
)anions 

a  time 
1  their 
B  ooun- 
finally, 
in  with 
as    the 

which 
IS  were 
1  a  day 
on  this 
ected  a 
1  time 
ricson, 
Ith  the 
,ld,  but 
udvcrse 
vest  em 
ng  the 

at  sul)- 


stanoe,  of  illustrious  lineage,  and  Irish  descent,  took  his 

fd(?i)arture   from    (xreenland   for   those   remote    south- 

i  westerly  regions.     Ilis   ships,  three  in  number,  after 

encountc^'ing  the  usual  amount  of  sea  obstacles,  reached 

I  the  places  described  by  the  preceding  adventurers  — 

namely,   llelluland  and   Markland,  (the   latter  about 

/  three  days'  sail  to  the  south  west  of  the  former,)  where 

they  m.itie  some  tarry,  and  afterwards  steering  towards 

the  south,  came  upon  Vinland,  or  land  of  grapes,  which 

refreshing  and   delicious   fruit    they  found  there    in 

abundance.      Having   fulfilled   his  mission,    Thorfinn 

bade  farewell  to  Vinland,  leaving  it  on  the  left,  and  so 

retracing  his  course  along  shore,  touched  successively 

at  INIarkland,  "  the  land  of  thick  woods,"  and  at  Hellu- 

hmd —  remarkable  for    its    icebergs,  slate-rocks,  and 

I  foxes,  —  and  after  some  weeks'  sailing  on   the   ocean, 

^  arrived  once  more  in  safety  at  Ericsford,  in  Greenland. 

Sucli  are  some  of  the  accounts  handed  down  to  us, 
through  the  medium  of  ancient  manuscrij)ts,  of  voyages 
athwart  the  Atlantic  b\  the  Scandinavian  Northmen. 
That  they  are  worthy  of  credence  can  scarcely  be 
doubted  after  the  unqualified  admissions  of  the  illustri- 
ous individuals  who  compose  the  association  before 
referred  to. 

Assuming  Markland  to  be  identical  with  our  modern 
j\ora  Srotht,  then  it  follows  that  the  land  situated  at 
the  distance  of  three  or  four  (hiys'  Still  thence  in  a 
north-easterly  direction  must  have  been  no  other  than 
Netrjoiwdlniid   (proper),   or    tin*   coast   of    Lahradur, 


10 


INTRODUCTORY   CHAPTER. 


while  the  region  discovered  at  a  similar  distance  to  the 
south-west  of  Markland  must  have  been  the  coast  of 
what  now  forms  the  State  of  Massachusetts.  At  one  of 
the  more  southerly  positions  attained  by  these  "  ancient 
mariners,"  the  sun  was  observed  to  rise  at  half-past 
seven  and  set  at  half-past  four,  giving  ni7ie  hours  for  the 
shortest  day.  With  these  data  there  can  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  deducing  the  latitude  of  the  place  of  observa- 
tion, which  must  have  been  in  41°  24'  10^'.  There  are 
other  particulars,  equally  convincing,  which  go  to 
corroborate  the  reports  so  long  in  circulation  about  the 
discovery  of  America  by  the  ancient  Scandinavians ; 
but  we  must  rest  here,  and  refer  the  reader,  curious 
in  such  matters,  to  the  extended  report  in  the 
Antiquitates  Americans,  published  by  the  Royal 
Society  of  Northern  Antiquaries, 


% 


\ 


\ 


ince  to  the 
le  coast  of 

At  one  of 
e  "  ancient 
t  half-past 
ursfor  the 
)e  no  diffi- 
>f  observa- 
There  are 
ch   go    to 

about  the 
iinavians ; 
p,  curious 
t  in  the 
the  Royal 


\ 


HISTORY  OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


I 


} 


CHAPTER     I. 

OF  THE   DISCOVERY  OF  NEWFOUNDLAND    BY  JOHN   CABOT. 

(1497—1583.) 

Question.  By  whom  was  this  country  discovered 
in  the  fifteenth  century  ? 

Ansiver.  By  John  Gabota,  or  Cabot,  a  Vene- 
tian, who,  on  a  voyage  of  discovery  in  the  reign  and 
under  the  sanction  of  Henry  VII.  of  England,  (on 
the  24th  Juno,  1497,)  fell  in  with  that  part  of  the 
Island  called  Cape  Bonavista. 

Q,     Did  Cabot  make  any  stay  here  ? 

A,  No;  he  coasted  along  the  continent  of 
America  until  he  found  himself  in  latitude  38° 
North,  when,  being  short  of  provisions,  he  returned 
to  England  with  '*  a  good  cargo.'* 

Q.     Of  what  did  this  cargo  consist  ? 

A.  Probably  of  furs  and  fish ;  he  carried  with 
im  also  three  of  the  aborigines  of  the  island  of  St. 
ohn,  now  Prince  Edward  Island. 


12 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


Q.     What  name  did  Cabot  give  to  Newfoundland  ? 

A.  That  of  Baccalaos,  the  Indian  name  for 
cod-fish. 

Q,  In  what  year  did  Europeans  begin  to  estab- 
lish a  fishery  on  these  shores  ? 

A.     In  1502. 

Q,  What  people  were  the  first  to  embark  in  this 
adventure  ? 

A,  The  Portuguese,  and  subsequently  the  Bis- 
cayans  and  the  French  ;  the  first  of  whom  had,  in 
1578,  no  fewer  than  50  vessels  engaged  in  this 
occupation. 

Q.     Who  was  Grasper  de  Corte  Eeal  ? 

A.  A  distinguished  Portuguese,  who,  in  1501, 
visited  this  country ;  he  gave  to  Conception  Bay  its 
present  name. 

Q.  When  did  the  English  begin  to  be  fully 
aware  of  the  great  importance  of  the  Newfoundland 
fishery  ? 

A.     About  the  year  1540. 

Q.  Wliat  British  ports  were  then  most  exten- 
sively engaged  in  this  branch  of  commerce  ? 

A.     London,  Biddcford,  Bristol  and  Barnstaple. 

Q,  Were  there  not  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth 
some  illustrious  characters  engaged  in  expeditions  to 
this  Island  ? 

A.  There  were,  namely,  — Sir  Humphry  Gilbert 
and  hi.s  rclativo  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 


siol 
El 


vesl 
adi 
gai 
not 

his 

but 
Wa 
dist 

to  ] 

I 

did 

Bri 

mis 
in  1 
alh 

• 

am 
six 
ere 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


13 


)undland  ? 
name   for 

to  estab- 


rk  in  this 

the  Bis- 
m  had,  in 
1   in  this 


in  1501, 
I  Bay  its 

be  fully 
3undland 


3t  cxtcn- 

rnstaple. 
illizabcth 
litions  to 

Gilbert 


i 


i 


Q.  In  what  year  did  Sir  Humphry  take  posses- 
sion of  this  Island  in  the  name  of  his  sovereign 
Elizabeth  ? 

A.  He  formally  took  possession  on  the  5th 
August,  1583. 

Q.     Did  he   meet  with   any   opposition  ? 

A.  At  first  he  did  ;  the  masters  of  the  foreign 
vessels  lying  in  the  harbor  of  St.  John's  refused  to 
admit  him  into  port ;  but  upon  his  preparing  to 
gain  an  entrance  by  force,  they  thought  it  expedient 
not  to  offer  resistance. 

Q.  How  many  vessels  had  Sir  Humphry  under 
his  command  ? 

A.  Four;  five  had  originally  been  fitted  out, 
but  one  of  them,  the  Raleigh^  having  on  board  Sii' 
Walter  himself,  was,  in  consequence  of  an  infectious 
distemper  which  broke  out  among  the  crew,  obliged 
to  put  back  to  England. 

Q.  After  effecting  an  entrance,  in  what  manner 
did  Sir  Humphry  proceed  ? 

A.  He  convened  a  general  meeting  of  the 
British  and  foreign  merchants,  —  caused  the  com- 
mission under  the  Great  Seal  of  England  to  be  read 
in  their  presence  —  informed  them  that  he  person- 
ally stood  in  possession  of  the  harbor  of  St.  John's 
and  all  the  adjacent  land  within  the  circumference  of 
six  hundred  miles,  and  also  that  he  was  duly  empow- 


ered to  enact  law.^  for  the  government  of  the  same. 


B 


14 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


Q,     What  followed  ? 

A,  He  granted  several  portions  of  his  land ; 
caused  parties  to  explore  the  coast  and  examine  the 
interior ;  and  on  the  20th  August  in  the  same  year, 
set  sail  from  St.  John's  on  a  cruize  to  the  west- 
ward. 

Q.     Did  the  voyage  prove  fortunate  ? 

A.  No  ;  on  the  27th  of  that  month  they  bore  in 
upon  the  land,  and  a  violent  gale  springing  up  from 
the  S,  E.  accompanied  by  heavy  rain  and  thick  fog, 
it  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  the  fleet  was 
preserved  from  entire  destruction. ' 

Q.     Were  any  of  the  vessels  lost  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  at  day-break  on  the  29th,  in  latitude 
45°  North,  and  about  260  miles  to  the  West  of  Cape 
Race,  (probably  on  the  Isle  of  Sable,)  the  Delight, 
Capt.  Maurice  Brown,  went  on  shore  and  was 
dashed  to  pieces;  the  others  fortunately  gained'  the 
open  sea  and  escaped. 

Q.     Were  the  crew  of  the  Delight  saved  ? 

A,  Out  of  116  souls,  14  only  got  safe  to  land ; 
the  captain  was  among  the  number  that  perished. 

Q,     What  became  of  the  other  ships  ? 

A»  On  the  first  of  September,  orders  were  given 
to  steer  for  England.  In  about  a  week  after,  a 
dreadful  storm  arose,  when  the  Squirrel  (Sh*  Hum- 
phry's vessel)  sunk,  and  her  crew  together  with  her 
illustrious    commander    unhappily    were    drowned. 


i 


HISTORY   OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


15 


lis  land ; 
imine  the 
me  year, 
;he  west- 


j  bore  in 
up  from 
iick  fog, 
fleet  was 


latitude 
;  of  Cape 
Delight, 
and  was 
ined'  the 


The  remaining  vessel  (the  Golden  Hind)  arrived  in 
Falmouth  in  thirteen  days  after. 

Q,  What  remarkable  expression  was  Sir  Hum- 
phry heard  to  repeat  on  the  evening  previous  to  this 
fatal  disaster  ? 

A.  This  —  "  Courage  my  lads,  we  are  as  near 
heaven  at  sea  as  we  are  on  land." 

Q,  Have  you  not  said  that  there  was  another 
vessel  engaged  in  this  adventure  ? 

A,     Yes  ;  she  was  called  the  Swallow, 

Q,     What  became  of  her  ? 

A,  Previously  to  leaving  St.  John's,  Sir  Hum- 
phry had  despatched  her  to  England  with  a  con- 
siderable number  of  his  followers,  some  of  whom 
were  sick,  and  others  disinclined  to  proceed  farther 
on  the  voyage. 


to  land ; 
shed.         M 

ire  given 
after,  a 
>ir  Hum- 
with  her 
Irowned. 


CHAPTER     II. 

OF  THE  SETTLEMENTS  ATTEMPTED  IN  THE  REIGN  OF 

JAMES  I.,    ETC. 

(1583  —  1630.) 

Q,  Did  the  disastrous  results  of  the  foregoing 
expedition  put  a  stop  to  these  adventures  ? 

A.  No ;  several  attempts  were  soon  afterwards 
made  to  plant  a  colony  here,  the  most  remarkable  of 
which  was  one  in  1610,  by  a  company  of  English 


16 


CATECHISM    OP   THE 


',\ 


ii 


M 


gentlemen  of  the  first  respectability,  among  whom 
are  to  be  found  the  names  of  Earl  Southampton,  Sir 
Percival  Willoughby,  and  the  great  Sir  Francis 
Bacon. 

Q,  Did  this  company  obtain  a  grant  of  any 
portion  of  the  Island  ? 

A.     They  did. 

Q.     Of  what  part  V 

A.  By  letters  patent,  dated  27th  April,  1610, 
James  I.  gave  them  all  that  part  of  Newfoundland 
lying  between  Cape  Bonavista  and  Cape  St.  Mary. 

Q.  Did  any  of  these  individuals  actually  visit 
this  island? 

A.     No. 

Q.  Under  whose  direction  then  was  the  Colony 
sent  hither  ? 

A,  Under  the  direction  of  Mr.  John  Guy,  who 
after  a  short  passage  arrived  at  Mosquito  Cove,  in 
Conception  Bay,  where  he  erected  toraporaiy  dwell- 
ings, and  opened  a  promising  intercourse  with  the 
native  Indians. 

Q.     Were  the  hopes  of  these  emigrants  realized  V 

A.  It  is  not  likely  they  were ;  for  we  learn  that  the 
whole  party  very  shortly  after  returned  to  England. 

Q.  Did  the  fishery  on  the  coast  still  continue  to 
engage  the  attention  of  the  British  public  ? 

A,     It  did. 

<^.     What  steps  were  taken  by  the  home  govem- 


^ 


m 
di 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


17 


ng  whom 

pton,  Sir 

Francis 

of  any 


1,  1610, 
undland 
b.  Mary. 
Uy  visit 


Colony 

uy,  who 
^ove,  in 
^  dwell- 
ith  the 

Jalized  ? 
that  the 
ngland. 
inue  to 


i 


govern- 


ment at  the  time,  to  remedy  abuses  and  settle  such 
disputes  as  would  naturally  arise  in  the  prosecution 
of  the  fishery  ? 

A,  A  Commissioner  named  Whitburn  was  sent 
hither  to  hold  courts ;  he  had  power  to  empanel 
juries  and  try  cases  in  the  ordinary  way. 

Q,  When  were  permanent  dwelling  houses  first 
erected  in  Newfoundland  ? 

A.     About  the  year  1614. 

Q.     Who  was  Sir  George  Calvert  ? 

A,  Principal  Secretary  of  State  to  James  I. 
By  letters  patent,  in  1623,  he  became  absolute  lord 
and  proprietor  of  all  the  south-east  part  of  the  island 
comprehended  in  the  extensive  peninsula  formed  by 
the  bays  of  Placentia  and  Trinity.  This  he  erected 
into  a  province  under  the  name  of  Avalon,  and 
sending  thither  a  considerable  colony,  appointed  a 
Capt.  Wynn  as  governor. 

Q,  In  what  part  of  the  province  did  Wynn 
settle  ? 

A.  At  Ferryland,  where  he  built  a  large  dwell- 
ing house,  a  granary,  and  some  stores. 

Q,  Did  not  Wynn  in  the  following  year  return 
a  flattering  report  of  the  soil  and  climate  ? 

A.  He  did  ;  in  his  despatches  to  Sir  George,  he 
stated  that  so  early  as  the  17th  August,  wheat, 
barley  and  oats  were  eared,  and  that  various  garden 
vegetables  had  attained  maturity. 


18 


nATiocrnsM  or  the 


Q,  What  effect  had  these  accounts  upon  the 
absent  proprietor  ? 

A,  That  of  inducing  him  to  remove  thither  with 
his  family ;  he  had  lately  been  created  Lord  Balti- 
more ;  and  upon  his  arrival  at  Ferryland  he  caused 
a  house  suitable  to  his  rank  to  be  erected,  and  also 
a  strong  fort. 

Q.     How  long  did  he  reside  there  ? 

A.  He,  or  at  least  some  part  of  his  family, 
resided  tliere  for  many  years. 

Q.     What  subsequently  happened  ? 

A.  Finding  at  length  that  his  plantation  was 
exposed  to  the  depredations  of  the  French,  whose 
men-of-war  were  continually  hovering  on  the  coast, 
and  that  neither  the  soil  nor  the  climate  was  so 
favorable  to  veo-etation  as  he  had  at  first  been  led  to 
believe,  he  returned  to  Ensjland,  and  after  obtainino; 
a  grant  of  lands  on  the  neighboring  continent,  he 
suffered  his  possessions  in  Ferryland  gradually  to 
sink  into  decay. 


.it 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


ID 


upon  the 

ther  with 
rd  Balti- 
he  caused 
and  also 


J  family, 


tion  was 
1,  whose 
ae  coast, 
was  so 
n  led  to 
btaininof 
lent,  he 
lally  to 


I 


% 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  INTRODUCTION    OF  A    REGULAR    SYSTE3I   BY   CHARLES    I. 

(1C33  — 1G34.) 

Q,  What  British  Monarch  first  caused  a  regular 
system  to  be  adopted,  with  a  view  to  the  better  gov- 
erning of  this  island  ? 

A,     Charles  I. 

Q.     In  what  year  ? 

A.     In  the  year  1633. 

Q.  Can  you  recount  the  substance  of  the  most 
important  of  these  regulations  ? 

A.  Yes,  —  they  ordained  that  all  persons  accused 
of  nmrder  or  theft  (if  the  article  stolen  exceeded  the 
value  of  forty  shillings)  should  be  conveyed  to  Eng- 
land for  trial )  that  no  flakes,  fishing-stages,  or  cook- 
rooms,  should  be  demolished  at  the  end  of  the  voy- 
age ;  that  no  ballast-stones  should  be  thrown  over- 
board in  the  harbors ;  that  according  to  the  ancient 
custom,  the  master  of  the  fishing  vessel  first  arriving 
at  any  port  should  be  admiral  of  the  same  during 
that  season  ;  that  no  taverns  or  houses  of  entertain- 
ment should  be  set  up  ;  and,  lastly,  that  divine  ser- 
vice, according  to  the  established  religion,  should  be 
duly  celebrated  on  every  Sunday. 


20 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


Q.  Was  there  not  great  inconvcnieDce  experi- 
enced in  carrying  prisoners  to  England  for  trial  ? 

A.  Unquestionably  there  was  \^  and  as  it  often 
happened  that  a  number  of  witnesses  was  indispen- 
sable, heavy  expenses  also  were  necessarily  incurred. 

Q.  What  extent  of  power  did  the  Government 
confer  upon  those  fishing  admirals  ? 

A,  They  were  authorised  to  determine  any  mat- 
ters of  dispute  that  might  arise  out  of  the  ordinary 
transactions  of  the  fishery  ;  to  see  that  all  local  rules 
and  regulations  were  duly  observed  and  carried  out ; 
and  to  enforce  obedience  to  sundry  acts  of  the 
Imperial  Parliament.  Partiality  and  corruption, 
however,  were  the  more  prominent  features  of  their 
courts. 


CHAPTER     IV. 

(1G34  — 1728.) 

Q.  In  what  year  did  France,  rather  than  relin- 
quish the  privilege  of  fishing  on  this  coast,  submit  to 
pay  a  tribute  to  the  13ritish  government  ? 

A,  In  1084,  and  continued  to  do  so  for  forty-one 
years.  It  amounted  to  five  per  cent,  on  all  fish 
taken  by  the  French.  In  the  reign  of  Charles  II. 
however,  this  tribute  was  given  up,  and,  from  that 
moment,  tlie  French  fishery  rapidly  increased. 


ft 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


21 


ce  experi- 
trial  ? 
as  it  often 
indispen- 
incurred. 
vernment 

any  mat- 
ordinary 
ocal  rules 
Tied  out ; 
s  of  the 
>rruption, 
of  their 


S& 


i 

m  relin- 

i 

ibniit  to 

t 

orty-one 
all  fish 

rles  II. 

ra  that 

i 

Q.  Did  the  French,  in  1G26,  settle  a  colony  in 
Placcntia  V 

A.  They  did ;  which  led  to  frequent  disagree- 
ments between  them  and  the  English. 

Q.  Were  there  many  English  settlements  in 
Newfoundland  in  1654  ? 

A.  It  is  recorded  that  there  were  fifteen  different 
settlements  existing  at  that  time,  and  nearly  four 
hundred  families. 

Q.     ^\Tiat  remarkable  events  happened  in  1G96  ? 

A.  The  town  of  St.  John's  was  taken  and 
destroyed  by  a  French  fleet,  and  all  the  settlements 
in  the  country  were  demolished,  except  those  at 
Bonavista  and  Carbonear,  which  effectually  defended 
themselves.  An  English  frigate  lying  in  Bay  Bulls 
was  likewise  taken  and  destroyed. 

Q.  What  put  a  temporary  stop  to  those  depre- 
dations V 

A.  The  peace  concluded  at  Ryswick  in  Holland, 
between  l^^ngland  and  France. 

Q.  What  understanding  then  took  place  between 
these  two  nations  relative  to  Newfoundland  ? 

A.  They  mutually  agreed  that  it  should  be 
placed  in  tlie  same  state  of  division,  with  respect  to 
each  other,  as  it  was  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war. 

Q.     ITow  long  did  it  remain  in  this  state  ? 

A,     Until  17<>2,  when  war  was  a";ain  declared. 


22 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


Q.     What  followed  this  declaration  ? 

A.  Queen  Anno,  then  on  tho  throne  of  England, 
sent  a  squadron  hither  under  Sir  John  Leake,  who 
gained  possession  of  the  whole  country,  captured  no 
less  than  nine-and-twenty  sail  of  the  enemy,  and 
returned  home  with  his  prizes  towards  the  end  of 
October. 

Q.  Did  the  English  long  remain  in  undisputed 
possession  ? 

A.  No ;  for  very  shortly  afterwards  the  French 
attempted  to  become  the  sole  masters  of  the  Island  ; 
their  garrison  at  Placentia  received  from  Canada 
such  accessions  of  strength  as  to  be  able,  in  1705,  to 
make  a  formidable  attack  upon  the  forts  at  St. 
John's. 

Q.  Was  their  attack  upon  these  forts  attended 
with  success  ? 

A.  No  ;  but  they  succeeded  in  spreading  their 
devastations  northward  as  far  as  Bonavista.  In  the 
following  year  they  were  again  expelled  by  the  Eng- 
lish, and  many  of  their  men-of-war  and  fishing  vessels 
either  captured  or  destroyed. 

Q.  Did  this  put  an  end  to  the  contentions  of 
these  two  nations  in  regard  to  Newfoundland  ? 

A,  It  did  not.  So  impressed  were  their  respec- 
tive governments  with  the  conviction  of  the  import- 
ance of  this  island,  that  for  tho  eight  subsc(i[uent 
years  the  whole  country  presented  a  scene  of  per- 


^ 


HISTORY    OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


23 


>f  England, 
Leake,  who 
saptured  no 
lemy,  and 
ihe  end  of 

indisputed 

be  French 
le  Island ; 
n  Canada 
I  1705,  to 
ts  at  St. 

attended 

ling  their 

In  the 

the  Eng- 

ig  vessels 

ntions  of 
I? 

r  respec- 
j  import- 
3se(|uent 
of  per- 


petual conflict,  being  sometimes  in  the  hands  of  the 
English  and  at  other  times  in  the  hands  of  the  French. 

Q.  Was  it  solely  on  account  of  her  fisheries  that 
Newfoundland  engrossed  so  much  attention  ! 

A.  Her  fishery  was  not  the  only  thing  that 
rendered  her  an  object  of  importance  ;  she  formed  an 
extensive  nursery  for  seamen,  and  occupied  a  com- 
manding geographical  position  with  respect  to  the 
Canadas. 

Q,  Was  it  not  about  the  time  of  which  we  are 
speaking  that  the  first  Episcopal  Missionary  was 
appointed  for  this  country  ? 

A.  Yes,  in  1705  ;  his  salary  was  but  £50  per 
annum,  though  he  had  to  perform  his  clerical  duties 
at  settlements  nearly  200  miles  apart. 

Q.     What  was  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  ? 

A.  A  compact  of  peace  between  England  and 
her  allies  on  the  one  part,  and  France  on  the  other ; 
concluded  at  the  city  of  Utrecht,  in  the  Netherlands, 
on  the  4th  of  April,  1713. 

Q.  What  was  the  substance  of  such  part  of 
this  treaty  as  related  to  this  country  ? 

A,  Newfoundland  and  the  adjacent  islands  were 
declared  to  belong  wholly  to  Great  Britain,  —  liberty 
was  given  to  the  French  to  catch  and  dry  fish  only 
on  that  part  of  the  coast  lying  to  the  north  of  Cape 
Bonavista  and  stretching  along  the  western  shore  as 
far  as  Point  Riche  ;  —  they  were  not  to  make  any 


24 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


fortifications  or  erections,  except  such  as  were  neces- 
sary for  the  fishery ;  nor  were  they  to  remain  in  the 
Island  longer  than  the  process  of  curing  their  fish 
absolutely  required. 

Q,  Was  not  the  number  of  inhabitants  in  1713 
found  to  be  considerably  increased  ? 

A.     Yes. 

Q.     In  what  state  was  society  at  this  period  ? 

A.  In  a  very  disorderly  one,  owing  to  the  differ- 
ences which  arose  between  the  more  resident  popula- 
tion, on  the  one  hand,  and  those  who  only  visited  the 
island  during  the  fishing  season,  oh  the  other. 

Q.     What  produced  these  disagreements  ? 

A.  The  advantage  which  the  residents  took  of 
the  others'  absence  to  occupy,  each  returning  spring, 
the  places  most  convenient  for  conducting  the 
fishery.  This  was  looked  upon  as  unfair  by  the  dis- 
appointed party,  who  took  every  opportunity  to 
annoy  their  rivals. 

Q.  Did  the  resident  population  receive  at  this 
time  any  encouragement  from  the  home  government  ? 

A.  No  ;  the  government  at  home  were  entirely 
opposed  to  the  policy  of  rendering  Newfoundland  a 
permanent  settlement.  They  regarded  it  rather  as 
a  temporary  platform  for  the  convenience  of  fisher- 
men while  prosecuting  their  voyage  during  the 
summer  season. 


i 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


25 


ere  neces- 

lin  ill  the 

their  fish 

in  1713 


iod? 
he  differ- 
t  popula- 
sited  the 

I'. 

took  of 
r  spring, 
ng    the 

the  dis- 
inity  to 

at  this 

nment  ? 

ntirely 

Hand  a 

her  as 

fisher- 
ig   the 


« 


CHAPTER    V. 

(1728  —  1762.) 

Q.  In  what  year  were  a  Governor  and  regular 
Justices  of  the  Peace  appointed  ? 

A.     In  1728. 

Q.     Who  was  the  Governor  ? 

A,  Captain  Henry  Osborne,  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Squirrel,  an  officer  of  distinguished  merit  and 
ability. 

Q.  What  steps  did  he  take  on  assuming  the 
government  ? 

A.  He  selected  a  competent  person  to  fill  the 
office  of  High  Sheriff  for  the  island,  —  authorized  the 
Captains  of  the  Ships  of  "\V  ar  then  on  the  station  to 
hold  Surrogate  Courts  for  the  decision  of  civil 
causes,  nnd  corrected  many  abuses  which  had  crept 
into  society. 

Q,     \Vliat  else  did  he  do  ? 

A.  He  divided  the  Island  into  convenient  dis- 
tricts ;  levied  a  rate  of  half  a  quintal  of  fish  on  all 
boats  and  boats'  rooms,  or  fishing  establishments,  for 
the  construction  of  prisons ;  and  with  a  view  to  the 
more  summary  punishment  of  evil  doers  in  the  more 
c 


26 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


populous  settlements  he  caused  to  be  erected  several 
pair  of  stocks. 

Q.  Was  the  Governor  supported  in  these  salu- 
tary measures  by  the  FisJiing  Admirals  ? 

A.  No  ;  they  were  jealous  of  his  power,  and  did 
all  that  they  could  to  thwart  and  oppose  him. 

Q,     What  took  place  in  1737  ? 

A,  The  Governor  was  empowered  to  establish  a 
Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer. 

Q.     Why  was  this  Court  instituted  ? 

A,  In  consequence  of  the  increase  of  crime,  and 
the  delay  and  expense  which  attended  the  sending 
of  delinquents  to  England  for  trial,  as  stated  in  a 
former  chapter. 

Q.     Who  was  Governor  in  1740. 

A.     The  Eight  Hon.  Lord  George  Graham. 

Q,     By  whom  was  he  succeeded  ? 

A.  By  the  Hon.  John  Byng,  in  the  following 
year. 

Q.  Did  anything  worthy  of  note  happen  during 
his  administration  ? 

A.  Numerous  captures  were  made  by  the  squad- 
ron under  his  command  on  the  vessels  of  Spain, 
which  nation  was  then  at  war  with  England. 

Q,     How  were  these  prizes  disposed  of  ? 

A.  A  Vice- Admiralty  Court  was  established 
hero,  which  prevented  the  necessity  of  sending  them 
across  the  Atlantic  for  trial  and  condemnation. 


'^S 


■~'% 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


27 


ted  several 

these  salu- 

3r,  and  did 
im. 

jstablish  a 


crime,  and 
e  sending 
tated  in  a 


lam. 


"Tp 


following 

in  during 

be  squad-   | 
)f  Spain, 


tablished 
ng  them 
m. 


i 


Q,     Who  was  the  succeeding  Governor  ? 

A.  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  Captain  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Jersey. 

Q.     In  what  year  was  he  appointed  ? 

A.     In  1744. 

Q.  When  did  Lord  Rodney  assume  the  gov- 
ernment ? 

A.  In  the  year  1749;  he  was  then  a  Post 
Captain. 

Q.     What  is  to  be  remarked  of  1754  ? 

A,  It  was  in  this  year  that  Lord  Baltimore 
revived  his  claim  to  the  province  of  Avalon ;  but  he 
had  been  so  long  out  of  possession  that  his  claim  was 
disallowed. 

Q.  Are  you  aware  of  any  events  in  1760  worthy 
of  remembrance  ? 

A,  An  attempt  was  this  year  made  by  one  Scott 
and  others  to  open  an  intercourse  with  the  Indians  ; 
but  both  he  and  his  companions  were  treacherously 
killed. 

Q.     Who  was  Lord  Rodney's  successor  ? 

A,     Governor  Drake. 

Q.     What  is  remarkable  of  1761  ? 

A.  So  inconsiderable  was  the  naval  force  on  the 
station,  that  in  order  to  protect  the  homeward-bound 
vessels,  a  merchant  brig  was  equipped  at  the  joint 
expense  of  the  trade.  The  command  was  given  to 
Lieut.  John  Neal. 


S 


28 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


V 

i 


Q.  What  was  the  consequence  of  leaving  the 
island  in  this  unprotected  state  ? 

A.  It  was  visited  in  the  following  year  by  a 
French  squadron,  which  arrived  at  Bay  Bulls  on  the 
24th  of  June :  here  they  landed  some  troops,  who 
proceeded  overland  to  St.  Jolm's. 

Q,     Eelate  what  followed  ? 

A.  The  garrison  at  St.  John's  being  incapable 
of  defence,  immediately  surrendered,  and  sixty 
soldiers,  together  with  the  officers  and  crew  of  ilis 
Majesty's  Ship  Gramont,  then  lying  in  port,  were 
made  prisoners  of  war. 

Q,  Were  their  depredations  confined  to  St. 
John's  ? 

A.  No;  they  likewise  took  Carbonear  and 
Trinity,  where  they  inflicted  every  kind  of  injury  on 
the  fishery  and  trade. 


CHAPTER     VT. 

(1762  — 17G3.) 

Q.  You  liave  stated  that  in  1702  the  Frencli 
were  successful  in  their  attack  upon  Newfoundland. 
How  long  did  they  hold  possession  of  tlie  country  ? 

A.  But  for  a  very  few  months.  Intelligence  of 
the  affair  having  reached  Lord  Colville,  at  Halifax, 


h 


m 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


29 


eaving  the 


year  by  a 
ulls  on  the 
'00j)s,  who 


incapable 
md  sixty 
3W  of  ilis 
port,  were 

1    to    St. 

lear    and 
injury  on 


Frencli 
mdlaud. 
intry  ? 
gence  of 
Halifax, 


■'s+'jft 


he  immediately  set  sail  for  this  coast.  On  an'iving 
with  his  squadron  off  the  mouth  of  St.  Joiin's,  he 
found  a  superior  number  of  the  enemy,  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  de  Ternay,  lying  within  at 
anchor. 

Q.  What  subsequently  happened  ? 
A.  Lord  Colville,  being  joined  by  some  trans- 
ports having  on  board  about  eight  hundred  men, 
made  immediate  preparations  for  an  attack.  The 
troops,  who  were  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Amherst,  effected  a  landing  at  Torbay,  under  a  gall- 
ing fire,  and  advanced  upon  Quidi  Vidi,  which  they 
took  sword  in  hand.  They  afterwards  turned  their 
attention  to  the  commanding  batteries  on  Signal  Hill, 
then  in  the  possession  of  the  French,  and  such  was 
the  bravery  of  the  British  troops,  that  in  a  few 
moments  the  enemy  were  driven  from  their  guns. 

Q.  Did  not  the  French  still  occupy  some  strong 
forts  in  the  centre  of  the  town  ? 

A.  They  did  ;  but,  on  the  night  of  the  17th 
September,  after  sustaining  for  some  hours  a  brisk 
fire  from  their  assailants,  they  surrendered  them- 
selves prisoners  of  war. 

Q,  Have  you  not  said  that  Lord  Colville,  upon 
his  arrival  off  St.  John's,  found  a  French  squadron 
lying  within  at  anchor  ? 

A.     Yes. 

Q.     Did  these  ships  take  no  part  in  this  conflict  V 


30 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


It 


A.  No ;  for  they  had  previously  put  to  sea 
under  cover  of  a  thick  foo-. 

Q,     Where  were  the  British  fleet  at  this  time  ? 

A.  They  had  been  driven  off  to  sea  by  a  heavy 
gale  of  wind. 

Q,     Did  they  fall  in  with  the  enemy's  ships  ? 

A.  They  descried  them  at  a  distance,  but 
declined  giving  chase. 

Q.  Do  you  know  the  amount  of  loss  sustained 
by  the  British  in  this  action  ? 

A.  About  twenty  men,  besides  Lieut.  Bchuyler, 
of  the  Royal  Americans,  were  killed.  Captain 
McDonald,  who  commanded  in  the  attack  on  Signal 
Hill,  died  of  his  wounds;  and  some  other  officers 
were  severely  wounded,  but  recovered. 

Q.  Were  there  not  two  individuals,  inhabitants  of 
the  Island,  who  took  an  active  and  most  praiseworthy 
part  in  the  occurrences  of  those  times  ? 

A.  There  were,  —  namely,  Robert  Carter,  Esq., 
of  Ferryland,  and  Charles  Garland,  Es|.,  of  Harbor 
Grace ;  the  former  supported  a  gift-rison  at  the  Isle 
of  Boys,  and  the  latter  a  detachment  of  military  on 
the  island  at  the  entrance  to  Carbonear.  Their  ser- 
vices were  afterwards  most  honorably  acknowledged 
by  the  Government. 

Q.  What  circumstance  mav  be  adduced  as  a 
proof  of  the  higli  opinion  which  the  French  govern- 
ment entertained  as  to  the  importance  of  New- 
foundland i 


HISTORY    OF   NEWFOUNDLAND 


81 


)ut   to   sea 

is  time  ? 
y  a  heavy 

5bips  ? 
ance,    but 

sustained 

Schuyler, 

Captain 

on  Signal 

T  officers 

)itants  of 
seworthy 

',  Esq., 
Harbor 
he  Isle 
^tary  on 
eir  ser- 
dedgetl 

i  as  a 
2:overn- 

New- 


'™ 


m 


A.  By  a  definitive  treaty,  signed  at  Paris  towards 
the  beginning  of  1703,  Franco  renounced  all  her 
pretensions  to  Nova  Scotia^  for  the  privilege  of 
catching  and  curing  fish  on  the  northern  parts  of  this 
Island. 

Q.  When  was  the  coast  of  Labrador  annexed  to 
the  government  of  Newfoundland  ? 

A.     About  the  year  1703. 

Q.  What  illustrious  person  was  engaged  in  a 
survey  of  tlie  coasts  about  the  period  last  mentioned  ? 

A.  The  celebrated  navigator,  Captain  James 
Cook. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

(17G3  — 1774.) 

Q.     What  was  the  amount  of  population  in  1763  ? 

A.  Al)out  thirteen  thousand;  but  of  these  not 
more  than  one  half  were  constant  residents. 

Q.     What  was  then  tlie  extent  of  the  fishery  ? 

A.  In  that  year,  no  less  than  380,274  quintals 
of  codfisli  were  taken  and  cured;  694  tierces  of 
salmon,  and  the  produce  of  train-oil  was  1598  tuns. 

Q.  Can  you  tell  tlio  value  of  the  furs  obtained 
in  this  year  ? 

A,    It  exceeded  £2000. 


32 


CATECHISM    OF   THE 


Q.  Have  you  any  idea  of  the  number  of  vessels 
then  employed  in  the  trade  ? 

A.     Yes ;  nearly  400. 

Q.     Was  the  seal-fishery  prosecuted  at  this  time  ? 

A,     No. 

Q.  In  what  year  was  Captain  Hugh  Palliser 
sent  hither  as  Governor. 

A.  In  1764,  and  continued  till  1768.  The 
rules  and  regulations  which  he  made  relative  to  the 
fishery  afterwards  passed  into  law. 

Q.     By  whom  was  he  succeeded  ? 

A,  -By  the  Hon.  John  Byron,  who  was  the  first 
that  issued  a  proclamation  for  the  protection  of  the 
native  savages. 

Q.     Who  was  his  successor  ? 

A.  Commodore  Molineaux,  in  1772.  He  was 
afterwards  created  Lord  Shuldham. 


tf 


CHAPTER     VIII, 

(1774  —  1786.) 

Q.     Was  Europe  the  only  quarter  from  which 
Newfoundland  received  supplies  at  this  period  ? 

'  A.  No ;  she  imported  from  various  parts  of 
America,  and  in  particular  from  the  United  States,  at 
that  time   dependencies  of  Great  Britain.      From 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


33 


f  vessels 


his  time  ? 

Palliser 

8.      The 
^e  to  the 


the  first 
n  of  the 


He  was 


f 

i 

m  which 

►d? 

# 

mrts    of 

m 

states,  at 

-.^j^^K 

From 

i 

iJ^^^H 

tliesc  she  imported  provisions  amounting  to  upwards 
of  three  hundred  thousand  pounds,  annually. 

Q,  What  effect  had  the  memorable  rupture 
which  took  place  between  Britain  and  her  American 
colonies  upon  Newfoundland  ? 

A.  A  very  serious  one ;  —  the  general  Congress 
of  the  States  having,  in  the  fall  of  1774,  issued  an 
order  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  provisions  to 
such  of  the  sister  colonies  as  remained  unfriendly  to 
the  American  cause,  a  scarcity  of  food,  such  as  had 
never  before  been  experienced  in  the  country,  pre- 
vailed throughout  tbe  land. 

Q,     What  is  remarkable  of  1775  ? 

A.  One  of  the  heaviest  storms  ever  remembered 
in  this  Island  occurred  in  that  year.  The  sea  sud- 
denly rose  twenty  feet  above  its  usual  height,  and 
the  consequent  loss  of  property  on  the  land  was 
immense.  Numbers  of  square-rigged  vessels  went 
on  sliore,  and  were  totally  lost ;  hundreds  of  smaller 
craft  shared  the  same  fate  ;  and  it  is  estimated  that 
at  least  three  hundred  human  beings  perished. 

Q.  Did  the  Americans  after  their  declaration  of 
war  commit  any  depredations  on  this  coast  ? 

A.  They  did  ;  and  so  well  acquainted  were  they 
with  the  various  harbors  nud  coves,  that  they  suc- 
ceded  in  capturing  vessels  while  lying  at  their 
owners'  wharves. 

Q.     Were  not   the  towns  of  Harbor  Grace  and 


34 


CATECHISM    OF    THE 


I 


Carbonear  very  much  annoyed  by  the  privateers  of 
that  nation  ? 

A,  At  first  they  were,  till  batteries  of  sufficient 
strength  were  erected  at  the  mouths  of  those  harbors. 

Q.  When  was  Rear  Admiral  Montague  appointed 
Governor  ? 

A.    In  1776. 

Q.     For  what  was  his  administration  remarkable  ? 

A.  Chiefly  for  the  measures  adopted  to  enforce 
pacific  relations  with  the  native  tribes,  many  of 
whom  had  been  killed  by  the  out-port  settlers. 

Q.     Who  next  succeeded  to  the  goverorrient  ? 

A.    Rear  Admiral  Edwards,  in  1779. 

Q.     Who  had  charge  of  affairs  in  1782  ? 

A,  Vice  Admii'al  John  Campbell.  His  Secre- 
tary was  Mr.  Aaron  Graham,  from  whose  abilities 
the  colony  derived  much  benefit. 

Q,  What  nations  participated  with  England  at 
this  time  in  the  right  to  take  fish  on  this  coast  ? 

A»  None  —  the  English  possessed  the  exclusive 
right. 

Q,  Did  England  preserve  the  exclusive  right 
from  that  time  forward  V 

A.  No;  France  and  the  United  States  were 
re-admitted  to  a  participation  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Q,  What  were  the  limits  and  extent  of  the 
French  Shores  or  that  part  of  the  coast  on  which  the 
people  of  that  nation  were  allowed  to  fish,  as  defined 
at  the  cessation  of  hostilites  V 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


35 


A.  It  was  agreed  that  France  should  renounce 
her  right  of  fishing  on  that  line  of  coast  lying  between 
Cape  Bonavista  and  Cape  St.  John ;  but  from  the 
latter  Cape,  situate  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Island, 
and  in  latitude  about  the  fiftieth  degree,  she  was, 
after  proceeding  north  about,  to  extend  her  privilege 
down  the  western  shores  as  far  as  Cape  Ray. 

Q.  Was  it  understood  by  this  agreement  that 
the  French  fishermen  were  to  enjoy  within  these 
bounds  an  exclusive  right  of  fishery  ? 

A,  The  Government  of  France  has  always 
regarded  it  so,  though  the  claim  has  been  steadily 
opposed  by  our  colonists,  and  repeatedly  questioned 
in  the  British  Parliament. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

(1786  —  1811.) 

Q.     Who  was  Governor  in  1786  ? 

A.     Rear  Admiral  Elliot. 

Q.  VVhen  was  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas  first 
established  he.  3  ? 

A,  In  1789,  by  Admiral  Mark  Milbank,  who 
was  then  Governor. 

Q,  Was  not  this  followed  by  a  Court  of  Civil 
and  Criminal  Jurisdiction  ? 


Ill 
ill 


8! 


I 

■  i 

I, 


^i 


Si] 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


A.     Yei 


it 


called  '^  The  Si 


Court 


mpreme 
of  Newfoundland.^^ 

Q.     Who  was  appointed  Judge  of  this  Court  ? 

A.  John  Reeves,  Esq.,  with  a  Commission  as 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Island.  Mr.  Reeves  was  an 
eminent  lawyer,  and  a  man  of  extensive  acquirements 
and  deep  penetration.  During  his  short  continu- 
ance in  office,  numerous  abuses  that  had  crept  into 
the  inferior  courts  were  remedied,  and  the  proceed- 
ings of  those  tribunals  were  thenceforth  conducted 
with  more  regularity  and  order. 

Q.  In  what  year  did  the  French  Admiral 
Richery  destroy  the  town  of  Bay  Bulls  ? 

A*     In  the  year  1796. 

Q,  What  number  of  vessels  had  Richery  under 
his  command  ? 

A*     Nine  sail  of  the  line,  and  several  frigates. 

Q,     Who  was  Governor  in  this  year  ? 

A,  Sir  James  Wallace,  an  officer  of  great  deter- 
mination and  spirit.  He  made  efficient  preparations 
to  repel  Richery  in  the  event  of  his  attacking  the 
town  of  St.  John's ;  but  the  latter,  upon  ascertain- 
ing the  strength  of  the  fortifications,  thought  it  advis- 
able to  keep  at  a  distance. 

Q,     By  whom  was  Wallace  succeeded  ? 

A.     Bj  Vice  Admiral  Waldegrave. 

Q.  Are  you  informed  as  to  the  extent  of  the 
fishery  at  this  period  "i 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


37 


A.  The  number  of  quintals  of  codfish  reported  to 
have  been  cured  in  1795,  was  six  hundred  thousand, 
valued  at  eighteen  shillings  per  quintal.  Four 
thousand  nine  hundred  seals  were  also  taken,  besides 
a  vast  quantity  of  salmon.  The  whole  amount  of 
capital  vested  this  year  in  the  trade,  was  estimated  at 
little  less  than  a  million  and  a  half  pounds  sterling. 

Q.  Who  was  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  dur- 
ing the  administration  of  Admiral  Waldegrave  ? 

A.     Richard  Routh,  Esq. 

Q.  When  did  Admiral  Gambier  administer  the 
government  ? 

A.  From  1801  to  1803.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Sir  Erasmus  Gower. 

Q,  What  attempts  were  made  to  benefit  society 
at  this  juncture  ? 

A.  Sunday  schools  were  introduced  ;  and  associ- 
ations for  the  relief  of  the  poor,  (termed  Benevolent 
Irish  Societies,)  were  formed,  both  in  the  capital  and 
Conception  Bay. 

Q.     What  event  worthy  of  note  happened  in  1 807  'i 

A.  The  first  newspaper  ever  issued  in  the  Island 
was  published  this  year;  it  was  entitled  **  The 
Royal  Gazette,  and  Newfoundland  Advertiser. ^^ 
The  proprietor  was  Mr.  John  Ryan. 

Q.     What  occurred  in  1808  V 

A.  The  formation  at  St.  John's  of  a  Volunteer 
Militia. 


%\ 


^1!' 


D 


38 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


h    ^ 


•:  1 


II     f:t 


Q.  Were  not  the  Courts  of  Judicature,  which 
had  hitherto  been  merely  the  subject  of  experiment, 
established  on  a  more  permanent  footing  about  this 
time? 

A.     Yes. 

Q.  Was  the  coast  of  Labrador  included  in  the 
government  of  Newfoundland  at  the  period  of  which 
you  speak  ? 

A.  It  had  been  separated  from  it  for  some  time, 
but  was  now  re-anncxcd  to  it  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Admiral  Holloway. 

Q.     Who  succeeded  him  ? 

A.  Sir  John  Thomas  Duckworth,  K.  B.,  in 
1810. 

Q,  What  were  among  the  first  acts  of  bis 
administration  ? 

A.  He  issued  a  proclamation  for  the  protection 
of  the  Indians ;  and  sent  to  the  Bay  of  Exploits  a 
small  armed  schooner,  under  the  command  of  Lieut. 
Buchan,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  more  authentic 
information  respecting  that  ill-used  people. 

Q.     What  was  the  result  of  this  expedition  ? 

A.  Nothing  beneficial  was  accomplished,  and 
two  of  the  marines  whom  Lieut.  Buchan  had  with 
him  as  a  guard,  were  killed  by  the  savages. 

Q.    What  took  place  in  1811  ? 

A.  An  act  authorizing  the  holding  of  Surrogate 
Courts  on  the  Coast  of  La})rador,  was  passed  by  the 


i 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAJSTD. 


39 


British  Parliament ;  some  necessary  improvements 
were  effected  in  re-building  St.  John's ;  and  a  gov- 
ernmental reward  of  one  hundred  pounds  was  offered 
to  any  person  who  should  bring  about  a  friendly 
understanding  with  the  Red  Indian  tribe. 


CHAPTER    X. 


Q.  Did  anything  worthy  of  notice  happen  in 
1812? 

A.  War  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States  of  America,  broke  out  on  the  17th  June  ;  con- 
sequently much  excitement  and  alarm  prevailed 
throughout  the  Island. 

Q.  In  what  year  was  the  treaty  of  Paris  con- 
cluded ? 

A.  The  treaty  of  Paris  was  concluded  on  the 
17th  June,  1814,  exactly  two  years  after  the  Ameri- 
can declaration  of  war. 

Q.  What  reference  was  made  to  Newfoundland 
in  this  treaty  ? 

A,  So  much  of  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  as  gave  to 
the  English  the  possession  of  all  the  adjacent  islands, 
was  abrogated ;  and  tlie  Frencli  right  of  fishing 
placed  on  tlie  same  footing  as  in  1792. 


'\l 


40 


CATECHISM    OF    THE 


^^^ 


Q.  What  change  began  about  this  period  to  be 
effected  in  the  fisheries  of  this  island  ? 

A.  The  hanh  fishery  suflfered  a  considerable  fall- 
ing off,  while  the  outfit  for  Labrador  was  greatly 
increased.  The  sealing  voyap-e  began  to  be  more 
extensively  prosecuted,  and  the  vessels  employed 
therein  to  be  of  a  larger  size. 

Q.  Can  you  furnish  an  idea  of  the  extent  and 
value  of  the  exports  in  1814  ? 

A.  One  million  two  hundred  thousand  quintals 
of  dried  codfish  were  exported  in  this  year,  valued  at 
£2  per  quintal,  besides  twenty  thousand  quintals  of 
core  fish,  shipped  off  in  barrels  ;  six  thousand  tuns  of 
cod  or  train  oil,  at  £32  per  tun ;  one  hundred  and 
fifty-six  thousand  seal  skins,  at  bs.  each  ;  four  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  sixty-six  tuns  of  seal  oil,  at 
c£36  per  tun  ;  besides  sahnon,  mackerel,  furs,  and 
berries,  amounting  to  £10,000  sterling. 

Q.  Do  you  know  what  were  then  the  current 
prices  of  some  of  the  principal  articles  of  pro- 
vision ? 

A.  Bread  sold  at  £4  per  cwt. ;  flour  at  £6  per 
barrel ;  pork,  £8  to  £10  per  barrel ;  butter  at  3s. 
per  pound ;  salt,  per  hhd.  405. ;  and  shop  goods,  or 
wearing  apparel,  in  proportion. 

Q'  Were  not  servants'  wages  enormously  high  at 
this  juncture  V 

A.     Yes;  an  ordinary  fisherman  obtained  at  the 


HISTORY  OP  newfoundla:nd. 


41 


rate  of  £12  per  month,  while  a  superior  ^^  splitter  ^^ 
could  command  £20  for  the  same  period. 

Q.  What  effect  had  the  peace  of  1814  upon  the 
trade  of  this  Island  ? 

A.  A  severe  and  general  depression  was  imme- 
diately felt ;  the  decline  which  took  place  in  the 
value  of  the  staple  products  of  the  colony,  and  the 
numerous  mercantile  failures  consequent  upon  this 
change,  produced  universal  embarrassment. 

Q.     Who  succeeded  Sir  John  Thos.  Duckworth  V 

A.     Sir  Richard  Goodwin  Keates. 

Q.     What  events  happened  in  1816  ? 

A.  The  destruction  of  a  large  portion  of  St. 
John's  by  fire,  in  the  month  of  February  ;  as  also  the 
parish  church  at  Harbor  Grace  in  the  following 
autumn. 

Q.  Did  not  the  fire  at  St.  John's,  at  so  inclement 
a  season,  produce  great  suffering  ? 

A.  It  necessarily  did  ;  but  the  distress  was  in 
part  alleviated  by  a  liberal  grant  from  the  Parent 
Government,  which  was  distributed  among  the  suf- 
ferers through  a  Committee  of  Eelief. 

Q.     What  occurred  in  1817. 

A.  A  scarcity  of  food,  which  prevailed  through- 
out the  Island  from  January  till  June ;  insomuch 
that  mobs  arose  in  various  places,  opened  tlie  stores 
by  force,  and  carried  off  the  provisions.  This  season 
of  scarcity  is  known  as  the  "  Winter  of  the  Halls  ^ 


I  K  ■ 


I 

!  I 


■11 


It 


42 


CATECHISM    OF    THE 


Q.  Did  not  the  British  Parliament  institute  an 
inquiry  into  the  state  of  the  colony  this  year  ? 

A.     It  did. 

Q.     What  did  this  elicit  ? 

A.  That  800  vessels  were  annually  employed  in 
the  trade  and  fisheries,  and  that  the  yearly  produce 
of  the  country  amounted  to  two  millions  of  pounds 
sterling ;  the  population  was  estimated  at  80,000. 

Q.     Who  was  Governor  in  1817  ? 

A.     Vice  Admiral  Pickmore. 

Q.  What  were  the  most  memorable  events  of 
this  year  V 

A.  Two  extensive  fires  in  the  town  of  St.  John's, 
which  consumed  upwards  of  two  hundred  houses, 
besides  a  large  number  of  stores  containing  an 
immense  quantity  of  provisions,  imported  as  supplies 
for  the  winter  season.  Both  these  conflagrations 
happened  in  November. 

Q.  To  whom  were  the  inhabitants  of  St.  John's 
greatly  indebted  on  this  occasion  ? 

A.  To  the  citizens  of  Boston,  who,  on  hearing 
the  news,  freighted  a  vessel,  and  with  characteristic 
generosity  despatched  her  with  food  to  the  relief  of 
the  sufferers. 

Q.  Is  this  noble  act  on  tlie  part  of  the  citizens  of 
Boston  still  remembered  in  the  colony  ? 

A.     Yes,  with  feelings  of  gratitude. 

Q.     What  took  place  in  1818  ? 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


43 


A.  The  death  of  the  Governor,  Vice  Admiral 
Pickmore  ;  his  remains  were  conveyed  to  England  in 
His  Majesty's  Ship  Fly. 

Q.  Who  assumed  the  temporary  management  of 
afiairs,  on  the  decease  of  the  Governor  ? 

A.  Capt.  Bowker,  of  H.  M.  S  Sir  Francis 
Brake. 

Q.  Wlien  did  Sir  Charles  Hamilton  come  hither 
as  Governor  ? 

A.     In  the  course  of  the  same  year. 

Q.     For  what  was  1818  remarkable  ? 

A.  For  its  successful  fisheries,  and  the  conse- 
quent revival  of  trade  and  commerce. 

Q.  Who  was  Chief  Justice  during  the  adminis- 
tration of  Sir  Charles  Hamilton  ? 

A.  Francis  Forbes,  Esq.,  of  Lincoln's  Inn  ;  his 
talents  were  of  a  high  order,  and  his  decisions  on  the 
Bench  gave  general  satisfaction  ;  he  came  into  office 
on  the  4th  August,  1816,  and  continued  therein  for 
about  six  years. 

Q.  How  were  the  laws  administered  in  the  out- 
ports  at  the  period  in  question  ? 

A.  By  means  of  Surrogate  and  Sessions  Courts. 
Appeals  from  the  Surrogate  to  the  Supreme  Court 
lay  in  suits  exceeding  <£40. 

Q.  Can  you  name  any  institutions  that  were 
established  here  in  1822  ? 

A.     "  The  Newfoundland  Free  Schools,"  in  con- 


I 


t » 


44 


CATECHISM    OP    THE 


;  t 


nection  with  "  The  Newfoundland  and  British  North 
America  School  Society." 

Q.  Who  succeeded  Mr.  Forbes  in  the  office  of 
Chief  Justice  ? 

A.  Richard  Alexander  Tucker,  Esq.,  A.  M.,  of 
the  Inner  Temple,  on  the  5th  May,  1823  ;  a  gentle- 
man of  high  standing  in  his  profession,  and  one 
deservedly  esteemed  by  the  people  generally. 


1 1 


:    1 


\  I 


CHAPTER    XI. 

(1826  —  1831.) 

Q.  What  change  was  effected  in  the  judicial 
system,  in  1826  ? 

A.  A  very  important  one,  which  was  authorized 
by  a  Royal  Charter,  promulgated  on  the  2d  of 
January,  under  the  administration  of  Sir  Thomas. 
Cochrane. 

Q.     What  was  the  substance  of  this  charter  ? 

A.  It  directed  that  in  future  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Newfoundland  should  be  held  by  a  Chief  Judge, 
and  two  Assistant  Judges,  that  the  Island  should  be 
divided  in  three  districts  —  a  Northern,  Central,  and 
Southern;  —  that  at  each  of  these,  three  separate 
Circuit  Courts  should  be  held,  in  which  one  or  other 


HISTORY     OF    NEWFOUNDI.AND. 


45 


of  the  said  judges  should  preside ;  —  that  the 
Supreme  Court  should  admit  a  sufficient  number  of 
qualified  Attorneys  and  Solicitors  to  practice  in  the 
several  courts. 

Q.  What  were  the  salaries  assigned  respectively 
to  these  judges  ? 

A.  Twelve  hundred  pounds  sterling  per  annum 
for  the  Chief  Judge,  and  seven  hundred,  each,  for 
the  two  assistants. 

Q.  Was  there  not  an  expedition  into  the  interior 
undertaken  in  1827. 

A.     Yes. 

Q.     What  was  its  object  ? 

A.     The  civilization  of  the  native  Indians  V 

Q.     Who  had  charge  of  this  expedition  V 

A.     Mr.  E.  Cormack. 

Q.     Was  the  enterprise  successful. 

A.  No  ;  not  a  single  Indian  was  fallen  in  with, 
though  the  expedition  penetrated  the  heart  of  the 
country,  traversing  the  island  from  east  to  west. 
Some  curious  and  valuable  information,  however, 
was  obtained  respecting  its  agricultural  capabilities 
and  mineral  wealth. 

Q.  In  what  year  was  Newfoundland  first  visited 
by  a  Protestant  Bishop  ? 

A.  In  1827,  by  Dr.  Inglis,  then  Bishop  of  Nova 
Scotia.  Governor  Cochrane  returned  to  England  for 
a  few  months  this  year,  and  during  his  absence  the 


y[ 


46 


CATECHISM    OP  THE 


][■ 


administration  of  affairs  devolved  ui3on  Chief  Justice 
Tucker,  as  President  of  the  Council. 

Q.     What  occurrences  of  note  happened  in  1828  ? 

A.  The  public  road  between  the  Cove  and  St. 
John's  was  greatly  improved,  partly  by  private  sub- 
scription, but  chiefly  at  the  expense  of  the  local  gov- 
ernment ;  the  building  of  the  new  Government 
House  was  commenced,  and  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil  met  with  a  sudden  and  pretty  general  advocacy. 

Q.     What  took  place  in  1829  ? 

A.  The  true  position  of  the  Virgin  Hocks,  on 
the  western  edge  of  the  Grand  Bank,  in  longitude 
50°  56'  35^'  W.,  and  latitude  46°  26'  23''  N., 
was  determined  by  Lieut.  Bishop,  commanding  one 
of  His  Majesty's  ships. 

Q.     What  occurred  in  1830  ? 

A,  The  death  of  Dr.  Scallan,  Roman  Catholic 
Bishop,  who  was  succeeded  in  his  office  by  Dr.  Flem- 
ing. A  stone  court-house  and  prison  were  erected 
in  Harbor  Grace ;  and  Government  House,  in  St. 
John's,  was  completed  at  the  expense  of  £60,000. 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


47 


CHAPTER    XII. 

(1831  —  1841.) 

Q.     Relate  the  most  important  events  of  1832. 

A.  A  Representative  Assembly,  agreeably  to 
the  prayers  of  the  inhabitants,  was  granted  to  the 
colony.  A  calamitous  fire  which  destroyed  ninety- 
seven  buildings,  including  the  Episcopal  Church, 
broke  out  on  the  8th  August,  in  the  town  of  Harbor 
Grace.  An  election  of  members  for  the  General 
Assembly  took  place  in  November. 

Q.  Into  how  many  electoral  districts  was  the 
Island  divided  ? 

A,     Into  nine. 

Q.  What  number  of  representatives  was  ap- 
pointed to  each  ? 

A.  The  district  of  St.  John's  had  three  ;  that  of 
Conception  Bay,  four ;  those  of  Trinity  Bay,  Bona- 
vista  Bay,  Fogo,  Fortune  Bay,  Burin,  and  Ferry- 
land,  one  each;  and  that  of  Placentia  and  St. 
Mary's,  two,  making  in  the  whole  fifteen  repre- 
sentatives. 

Q.     Who  were  eligible  for  election  V 

A.  All  persons  of  the  full  age  of  twenty-one 
years,  being  of  sound  understanding  —  natural  born 


U 


■M 


s, 


48 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


€ 


subjects,  ,or  lawfully  naturalized  —  never  having 
been  convicted  of  any  infamous  crime  —  and  having 
for  two  years  next  immediately  preceding  the  day  of 
election,  occupied  as  owner  or  tenant,  a  dwelling 
house  within  the  Island. 

Q.     What  was  the  extent  of  the  exports  of  the 
colony  about  this  period,  taking  the  average  of  three 


years 


'? 


A.  Six  hundred  thousand  quintals  of  cod-fish, 
valued  at  ten  shillings  per  quintal ;  three  thousand 
tuns  train  oil,  at  eighteen  pounds  per  tun  ;  four  hun- 
dred thousand  seal  skins,  at  one  shilling  each  ;  five 
thousand  tuns  of  seal  oil,  at  twenty  pounds  per  tun ; 
and  salmon  and  furs  valued  at  twenty  thousand 
pounds  ;  —  making  a  total  of  £494,000. 

Q.     What  were  the  imports  during  the  same  time  ? 

A.  Of  bread,  ninety-four  thousand  bags  ;  flour, 
thirty-eight  thousand  barrels  ;  pork,  twenty-three 
thousand  barrels ;  and  of  butter,  one  million  three 
hundred  thousand  pounds. 

Q.    What  occurred  in  1833  ? 

A,  The  first  session  of  the  General  Assembly 
was  opened  on  New  Year's  Day.  Mr.  Tucker 
resigned  his  commission  as  Chief  Justice  —  an  office 
he  had  filled  with  distinguished  ability;  —  and  a 
Presentation  Convent  was  established  in  St.  John's. 

Q.  Who  succeeded  Mr.  Tucker  as  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Island  V 


HISTORY   OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


49 


1 


A.  Henry  John  Boulton,  Esquire,  of  Upper 
Canada.  The  Hon.  James  Simms  acted  in  the 
interval  prior  to  his  appointment. 

Q.     What  took  place  in  1834  ? 

A.  The  arrival  of  Honry  Prescott,  Esquire,  as 
Governor  of  the  Colony. 

Q.  What  did  the  imports  and  exports  amount  to 
this  year  ? 

A.  The  former  to  £618,757,  and  the  latter  to 
£826,659. 

Q.  What  number  of  vessels,  from  sundry  parts, 
arrived  in  Newfoundland  in  1834  ? 

A,  Of  British  there  were  888,  and  of  American 
and  Spanish  20. 

Q.  How  many  vessels  were  this  year  employed 
in  the  seal  fishery  on  this  coast  ? 

A.     About  400. 

Q.  What  was  the  population  of  the  colony  at 
this  time  ? 

A.     It  was  estimated  at  about  eighty  thousand. 

Q.  AVhen  was  the  first  Banking  House  estali- 
lished  in  the  Island  i 

A,     In  1830. 

Q,     What  improvement  marked  the  year  1837  V 

A.  The  erection  of  a  light-house  on  Harbor 
(rrace  Ij^land. 

Q.  In  what  year,  and  by  whom,  was  the  first 
geological  survey  of  the  country  undertaken  ? 


^} 


it 


m 


^ 


50 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


A.     In  1839.  by  J.  B.  Jukes,  Esquire,  F.  G.  S. 
Q.     When  was  the  Roman  Catholic  Cathedral  at 
St.  John's  commenced  V 
A.     In  the  year  1841. 


CHAPTER     XIII. 

(1841  —  1854.) 

Q,     What  occurred  in  1843  ? 

A.  A  change  took  place  in  the  constitution  of 
the  Assembly,  which  was  now  incorporated  with  the 
Council ;  it  was  opened  on  the  17  th  January,  by 
Sir  John  Harvey,  the  then  Governor ;  and  it  was 
termed  "  The  Amalgamated  Assembly  of  Newfound- 
land." The  foundation-stone  of  the  Protestant 
Cathedral  was  laid  this  year. 

Q.     Who  was  the  Chief  Justice  in  1844  ? 

A»  Thomas  Norton,  Esquire  ;  he  was  preceded 
by  Chief  Justice  Bourne. 

Q,     When  was  gas-light  first  used  in  the  colony 't 

A.     In  1845. 

Q.  Was  it  not  about  this  year  that  the  Harbor 
Grace  and  Carbonear  Grammar  Schools  were  insti- 
tuted ? 

A.    It  was. 

Q.     What  memorable  events  happened  in  184()V 


I 


HISTORY   OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


51 


jded 


8-4()  'i 


A.  The  almost  total  destruction  of  St.  John's  by 
fire,  on  the  9th  day  of  June. 

Q.  Was  there  nothing  else  worthy  of  note 
occurred  in  this  year  ? 

A.  Yes ;  a  furious  hurricane  was  experienced  n 
the  19th  September,  which  ravaged  the  whole  coast, 
destroying  a  vast  amount  of  property  and  very  many 
lives. 

Q.  When  did  the  Amalgamated  Assembly  hold 
its  last  session  ? 

A.     In  1847. 

Q.  Who  arrived  in  the  colony  as  Governor  this 
y   M  ? 

^.  Sir  John  Gaspard  Le  Marchant,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Sir  John  Harvey  who  assumed  the  govern- 
ment of  Nova  Scotia. 

Q.  What  improvements  were  carried  forward 
under  the  administration  of  Sir  Gaspard  LeMarchant  ? 

A.  Numerous  works  tending  to  benefit  society 
were  advanced  during  the  administration  of  this 
governor  ;  St.  John's  was  plentifully  supplied  with 
wholesome  water ;  agriculture  was  encouraged ;  the 
breed  of  cattle  improved ;  Mechanics'  Institutes  were 
founded  ;  public  edifices  erected  ;  and  a  better  sys- 
tem adopted  for  relieving  the  poor. 

Q.  Did  the  amalgamated  form  of  government 
continue,  under  the  administration  of  Sir  Gaspard 
Lo  Marchant  V 


III 


n 
It. 


52 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


'% 


A.  No ;  it  was  set  aside,  and  the  Legislature 
reverted  to  its  former  constitution. 

Q.  Who  succeeded  Mr.  Norton  as  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Island  ? 

A.     Francis  Brady,  Esquire,  in  1847. 

Q,  By  whom  were  the  reins  of  government 
assumed  after  the  departure  of  Sir  J.  Gaspard  Le 
Marchant  ? 

A.  Upon  Sir  Gaspard's  appointment  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  Nova  Scotia,  his  place  was  supplied  by 
His  Excellency  Ker  Baillie  Hamilton. 

Q.  Name  a  few  of  the  improvements  between 
the  years  1847  and  1854,  inclusive. 

A.  Steam  and  telegraphic  communication  be- 
tween Conception  Bay  and  St.  John's ;  the  town  of 
Harbor  Grace  lit  with  Kerosene  Gas ;  the  Market 
House  in  the  capital  opened,  and  various  places  of 
worship  erected  throughout  the  Island. 

Q.  What  was  the  amount  of  population  as  shown 
by  the  census  of  1845  ? 

A,     About  ninety-eight  thousand. 

Q.  What  proportion  did  the  different  religious 
bodies  bear  to  each  other  ? 

A,  There  were  fifty-one  thousand  Protestants  to 
forty-seven  thousand  Catholics. 

Q.  Of  what  denominations  was  the  Protestant 
church  composed  ? 

A*     Episcopalians,    Weslcyans,    Congregational- 


HISTORY    OF    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


53 


ists,  and  Presbyterians  ;  of  these,  thirty-five  thousand 
were  of  the  first-named  church,  and  fourteen  thou- 
sand of  the  second. 

Q.  How  many  churches  and  chapels  were  then 
existing  in  the  colony  ? 

A.     One  hundred  and  forty. 

Q.  What  was  the  number  of  schools  in  opera- 
tion at  this  period  ? 

A,  Two  hundred  and  nine  ;  a  fourth  of  which 
were  located  in  Conception  Bay. 

Q.     How  were  these  supported  ? 

A.  Partly  by  grants  from  the  local  legislature, 
and  partly  from  the  funds  of  religious  societies. 
This  of  course  refers  to  the  public  schools. 

Q,  Name  a  few  of  the  associations  which  have 
been  formed  in  Newfoundland  for  philanthropic  and 
other  purposes. 

A,  Benevolent  Irish  Societies,  Dorcas  Societies, 
Temperance  Societies,  Mechanics'  Institutes,  Agri- 
cultural Societies,  Insurance  Clubs,  Steam,  Gas,  and 
Water  Companies,  Life  Assurance  Associations,  and 
many  others. 

Q.  Do  you  know  the  total  number  of  towns  and 
settlements  in  the  Island  V 

A.  Four  hundred  and  twenty-one  ;  viz :  —  two 
hundr<)d  and  eleven  on  the  north  side  of  the  capital, 
inclusive,  and  two  hundred  and  ten  on  the  south. 

Q.     Can  you  further  particularize  them  ? 


II 


* 


m'l 


54 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


l-^ji 


^il 


A.  In  the  electoral  district  of  St.  John's,  10 
settlements,  with  a  population  of  25,000  ;  district  of 
Conception  Bay,  50,  population  28,000  ;  Trinity 
Bay,  47,  population  8,800 ;  Bonavista  Bay,  40, 
population  7,200 ;  Twillingate  and  Fogo,  64,  popu- 
lation, 6,800  ;  —  these  are  on  the  north. 

Q.     Furnish  those  on  the  south. 

A.  District  of  Ferryland,  16,  population  4,400  ; 
Placentia  and  St.  Mary's,  114,  population  6,500 ; 
Burin,  18,  population  4,400 ;  Fortune  Bay,  62, 
population  5,100. 

Q.     Do  these  embrace  the  whole  ? 

A  There  are  twenty-three  small  settlements 
between  Cape  Ray  and  Bonne  Bay,  with  a  popula- 
tion of  2,200  souls,  not  included  in  the  foregoing. 
These  were  the  numbers  given  by  the  census  of  1845. 

Q.  Can  you  inform  me  at  what  rate  the  popula- 
tion of  Newfoundland  is  supposed  to  increase  ? 

A.  It  was  found  that  for  the  ten  years  prior  to 
'45  the  population  had  increased  about  30  per  cent. 

Q.  Are  not  the  present  native  population  of  the 
Island  the  descendants  of  English,  Irish,  and  Scotch 
settlers  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  with  the  exception  of  a  few  who  derive 
their  origin  from  Jersey  emigrants. 

Q.  In  what  does  the  military  protection  of  the 
Island  consist  ? 

A.     Chiefly  in  tlie  fortifications  around  the  cap- 


$ 


HISTORY    OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


55 


erive 


f  the 


ital,  and  a  few  companies  of  soldiers,  amounting  to 
about  400  men. 

Q.  What  is  the  amount  of  Revenue  raised  in  the 
colony  ? 

A,  About  eighty-five  thousand  pounds  sterling 
per  annum. 

Q.     How  is  this  sum  obtained  ? 

A.  From  Colonial  or  Impf  unties,  £63,000  ; 
Light-Dues,  £3,000  ;  and  from  other  sources  about 
£20,000. 

Q.  How  much  of  this  is  appropriated  to  Educa- 
tion? 

A.  The  sum  set  apart  for  educational  purposes, 
in  1852,  was  £9,529  10s.  lOd. 

Q.  What  amount  is  annually  assigned  for  the 
support  of  a  Police  and  Magistracy  in  this  Island  ? 

A,     Six  thousand  pounds. 

Q,  What  is  given  out  of  the  Public  Treasury  for 
the  relief  of  the  poor  ? 

A.     About  nine  thousand  a-year. 

Q.  What  amount  of  salary  per  annum  does  the 
Governor  receive  ? 

A.     Three  thousand  pounds. 

Q,  How  many  vessels  and  boats  are  annually 
engaged  in  prosecuting  the  fisheries  ? 

A.  In  the  Spring,  or  seal  fishery,  about  400 
vessels;  and  in  the  Summer,  or  cod  fishery,  nearly 
15,000  of  all  sizes. 


ii 


56 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


Q.  How  many  acres  of  land  were  under  cultiva- 
tion at  the  last  census  ? 

A.     Thirty  thousand  acres. 

Q.  What  number  of  cattle,  say  cows  and  horses, 
were  then  owned  in  the  colony  ? 

A.     Of  the  former,  8,000  ;  of  the  latter,  2,000. 

Q,  What  was  the  total  amount  of  Imports  in 
1852  ? 

A.    £795,758. 

Q.  State  the  value  of  Exports  for  the  same 
period  ? 

A.    £965,772. 

Q,  How  many  Newspapers  are  published  in  the 
colony  ? 

A.     At  present,  (1854,)  seven  only. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


OP  THE  GEOGRAPHICAL    AND    PHYSICAL    FEATURES    OP  THE 

ISLAND;     ITS    BAYS,     BANKS,   CAPES,   HARBORS,   ETC.; 

CLIMATE  AND  SOIL. 

Q.     How  is  Newfoundland  situated  ? 

A.  The  Island  of  Newfoundland  is  situated  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence,  to  which  it 
aJBTords  a  northern  and  a  southern  entrance.  It  lies 
between  the  latitudes  of  46°  40',  and  51°  37',  N., 


HISTORY    OF   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


57 


and  beween  the  longitudes  of  52°  25',  and  59°  15', 
W. ;  it  is  of  a  triangular  form,  and  about  a  thousand 
miles  in  circumference. 

Q.  How  many  square  miles  does  the  surface  of 
the  Island  contain  ? 

A.     Nearly  forty  thousand. 

Q.     Repeat  the  names  of  its  principal  bays. 

A.  On  the  S.  E.  side  is  the  Bay  of  St.  John's, 
in  which  is  the  capital,  bearing  the  same  name.  To 
the  north  of  this  lies  the  beautiful  Bay  of  Concep- 
tion, containing  on  its  western  shores  the  ports  of 
Harbor  Grace,  Carbonear,  Brigus,  Port-de-Grave, 
and  Bay  Roberts,  with  others  of  less  note.  In  this 
bay  also  are  situated  the  fine  islands  of  Great  and 
Little  Belle  Isle,  and  Kelly's  Island.  More  north- 
erly, are  the  Bays  of  Trinity,  Bonavista,  Gander, 
Exploits,  Notre  Dame,  White,  and  Hare ;  and  on 
the  most  northern  extremity  is  the  small  Bay  of 
Pistolet, 

Q.  What  Bays  are  situate  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Island  ? 

A,  The  principal  are.  Fortune  Bay,  Bays  of 
Placentia,  St.  Mary's,  and  Trepassey. 

Q.     Are  there  not  some  on  the  western  side  ? 

A.  Yes  ;  St.  George's  Bay,  and  Bay  of  Islands. 
Here  are  also  several  large  rivers  and  an  extensive 
lake. 

Q.     V/here  is  Cape  Ray  ? 


I 


li 


'il\ 


58 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


A, 

A, 

A. 

dor? 
A. 


On  the  south-western  angle  of  the  Island. 

What  is  the  most  eastern  Cape  called  *? 

Cape  Spear. 

Where  is  Cape  Norman  ? 

On  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Island. 

What  separates  Newfoundland  from  Labra- 


The  Straits  of  Belle  Isle. 
Eepeat  the  names  of  the  principal  islands  by 
which  Newfoundland  is  surrounded  ? 

A.  To  the  south  are  St.  Peter's  and  Miquelon, 
both  of  which  are  in  possession  of  the  French.  More 
westerly,  are  the  Magdalen  Islands,  Cape  Breton, 
and  the  large  but  unpeopled  island  of  Anticosti.  On 
the  east  are  New  World  Island,  Fogo,  Funk,  and 
Wadhams.  Off  the  French  Shore  lie  Groais  Island 
and  Belle  Isle. 

Q.     How  is  the  Grand  Bank  situated  ? 

A.  Its  western  edge  is  rather  more  than  a  degree 
to  the  east  of  this  Island.  It  is  five  degrees  wide 
from  east  to  west,  in  its  broadest  part,  and  about  nine 
degrees  long,  from  north  to  south.  It  is  entirely 
covered  with  the  sea,  which  varies  in  depth  from  ten 
to  one  hundred  fathoms. 

Q.  Are  there  not  similar  elevations  of  the  bed  of 
the  ocean  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Grand  Bank  ? 

A.  Yes ;  namely,  the  Outer  Bank,  which  lies 
about  2 J  degrees  farther  east ;    and  Green  Bank, 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


51> 


Mizen  Bank,  Porpoise  Bank,  and  Banquereau^ 
which  lie  to  the  west  of  the  Great  Bank. 

Q.     Is  not  the  Island  subject  to  dense  fogs  ? 

A,  On  the  southern  coast,  from  May  to  October, 
the  fogs  are  frequent  and  exceedingly  dense ;  but 
from  Conception  Bay  northward  the  sky  is  clenr 
and  the  air  most  salubrious. 

Q,  Are  the  winters  here  as  cold  as  they  are  in 
Great  Britain  ? 

A.  They  are  much  more  so ;  but  rarely  so  cold 
as  they  are  in  the  Canadas. 

Q.  What  is  the  lowest  degree  of  cold  experi- 
enced in  Newfoundland,  as  indicated  on  the  scale 
of  Fahrenheit's  thermometer  ? 

A.  From  6°  to  10°  below  zero  is  generally  the 
lowest  point  to  which  the  mercury  descends  during 
the  severest  winter.  There  are,  however,  a  few 
instances  on  record  wherein  it  indicated  as  low 
as  20°. 

Q.  To  what  depth  does  the  snow  fall  in  New- 
foundland, taking  the  average  of  our  winters  ? 

A,     From  four  to  six  feet. 

Q.     How  long  does  the  winter  usually  continue  ? 

A.  Occasionally  the  weather  is  very  mild  ;  but 
generally  speaking  the  frost  lasts  from  the  beginning 
of  December  to  the  last  of  March,  and  sometimes  for 
a  month  later. 

Q,  Is  not  the  navigation  closed  during  this 
period  ? 


il 


60 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


fit 

■  'i. 


A.  It  was  so  formerly,  but  of  late  years  vessels 
arrive  and  depart  every  month  in  the  season. 

Q.     Which  are  the  warmest  months  in  the  year  ? 

A,     July  and  August. 

Q.     What  is  the  temperature  of  these  months  ? 

A.  During  the  hottest  weather  in  these  months, 
the  thermometer  ranges  between  75°  and  90^  in  the 
shade  —  rarely,  however,  in  the  course  of  the  sea- 
son, ascending  above  80°. 

Q.     Of  what  description  is  the  soil  ? 

A.  The  soil  here  as  in  other  countries  is  of  vari- 
ous degrees  of  fertility,  depending  upon  the  nature 
of  the  underlying  rock  and  a  variety  of  causes  ;  but 
generally  speaking  it  is  loose,  shallow,  and  sterile, 
requiring  much  labor  to  render  it  productive. 

Q,  Does  not  this  country  yield  an  abundance  of 
grass? 

A.  In  certain  situations  it  does,  both  wild  and 
cultivated. 

Q.     Have  we  not  also  potatoes  and  oats  ? 

A.  Yes,  of  an  excellent  quality  ;  but  the  former 
have  degenerated  since  visited  by  the  rot.  Turnips, 
carrots,  and  other  garden  vegetables  are  likewise 
plentiful  and  of  a  superior  description. 

Q,     What  is  known  of  the  interior  of  the  Island  ? 

A,  The  interior  of  the  country  has  never  been 
explored,  and  consequently  our  knowledge  of  it  is 
exceedingly  limited  ;  but  from  information  derived 


HISTORY    OP   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


61 


from  persons  who  have  crossed  it  at  one  or  two 
points,  it  chiefly  consists  of  ponds  and  marshes, 
diversified  occasionally  with  rising  grounds  destitute 
of  timber,  which  are  therefore  called  *' barrens.'' 
This  applies  to  the  more  central  portions  of  the 
island,  for  nearer  the  coast  the  land  is  well  wooded. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


land  ? 
been 
it  is 
rived 


OF  THE   ABORIGINES,  OR  RED  INDIAN  TRIBE. 

Q,  Were  there  any  inhabitants  on  the  island 
when  discovered  by  Cabot  in  1497  "l 

A.  Yes ;  there  was  a  tribe  of  Bed  Indians,  or 
native  savages. 

Q,     Do  they  still  exist  on  the  Island  ? 

A.  It  is  generally  supposed  that  they  are  now 
extinct. 

Q.     What  has  befallen  thia  primitive  race  V 

A.  They  have  been  exterminated  by  the  whites 
and  Micmac  Indians,  T'ith  whom  they  waged  per- 
petual warfare. 

Q.  In  what  part  of  the  island  did  they  chiefly 
reside  ? 

A.     On  the   eastern   coast,    in    the    immediate 

vicinity  of  the  Exploits  River. 

F 


62 


CATECHISM  OP   THE 


%. 


Q.  Were  these  people  acquainted  with  the  use 
of  the  gun  ? 

A.  No ;  their  arms  consisted  simply  of  the  bow 
and  arrow. 

Q.     Of  what  were  these  implements  made  ? 

A,  The  bow,  which  was  about  five  feet  in  length, 
was  made  of  elastic  wood  ;  the  arrow  was  simply  a 
straight  piece  of  pine,  armed  with  bone  or  iron  at 
the  point,  and  having  a  few  goose  quills  at  the  other 
extremity  to  direct  its  flight. 

Q,     Describe  their  huts. 

A  Their  huts,  or  wigwams,  were  of  a  conical 
form,  ingeniously  covered  with  the  skins  of  deer,  or 
with  broad  pieces  of  birch  rind.  The  frame  consisted 
of  poles  fastened  together  at  the  top,  and  spreading 
to  the  required  width  at  the  base. 

Q.     How  were  their  canoes  made  ? 

A.  Their  canoes  were  formed  of  frail  pieces  of 
light  wood,  covered  with  birch  rind  sewed  together 
with  the  roots  of  trees  split  to  a  convenient  size ;  the 
seams  were  payed  over  with  resin.  The  usual  size 
of  these  boats  was  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  in 
length,  by  three  to  four  feet  wide. 

Q.     On  what  did  these  Indians  subsist  ? 

A.  Venison  was  their  favorite  food;  but  they 
also  ate  birds,  fish,  and  berries,  and  in  seasons  of 
scarcity  any  kind  of  offal. 

Q.     What  were  their  deer-fences  ? 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


63 


ase 


)0W 


gth, 
ily  a 
n  at 
)ther 


mical 
er,  or 
sisted 
ading 


ces  of 
gretber 
the 
il  size 
eet  in 


A.  A  species  of  quickset  hedge,  reared  along  the 
banks  of  rivers,  ponds,  or  lakes,  and  which  sometimes 
extended  over  a  distance  of  forty  miles. 

Q,     Of  what  use  were  those  fences  ? 

A,     They  interrupted  the  deer  in  their  migrations 
across  the  country,  and  were  of  great  advantage  to 
the  Indian  in  his  hunting  excursions. 
Q,     How  were  they  made  ? 

A.  Large  trees  growing  in  a  line  along  the  mar- 
gins of  lakes  were  cut  somewhat  more  than  half 
through  ;  they  were  then  made  to  fall  so  as  to  coin- 
cide exactly  with  each  other ;  care  was  taken  that 
the  distance  between  each  should  be  rather  less  than 
their  respective  heights,  in  order  that  the  top  of  one 
might  be  properly  fastened  to  the  butt  of  another. 
Openings  were  left  at  certain  intervals,  through 
which  the  deer  were  obliged  to  pass  after  crossing 
the  water.  At  these  openings  the  hunters  lay  con- 
cealed, and  dispatched  their  victims  without  toil  or 
difficulty. 


they 
Bons  of 


64 


CATECHISM   OF   THE 


CHAPTER    XVI. 


OF  THE  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


Q.     Name  the  wild  quadrupeds  of  Newfoundland. 

A,  Of  these  we  have  but  a  small  variety.  Deer 
are  met  with  in  the  western  parts  of  the  island,  where 
thoy  herd  together  in  large  numbers.  They  resort 
to  the  more  northern  portion  of  the  country  dur- 
ing the  summer  season,  but  retire  south  on  the 
approach  of  winter. 

Q,     What  other  animals  have  we  ? 

A.  Bears,  both  white  and  black,  wolves,  foxes, 
beavers,  otters,  martens,  hares,  and  musk  rats. 
These  are  the  principal. 

Q.    What  of  the  seal  ? 

A,  Seals  in  immense  numbers,  and  of  various 
species,  surround  the  coast  from  the  beginning  of 
March  to  the  last  of  April.  About  the  end  of  Feb- 
ruary they  bring  forth  their  young,  which  are  wafted 
hither  on  the  fields  of  ice,  and  are  taken  by  thousands. 

Q.     Enumerate  the  birds. 

A,  Hawks,  ravens,  owls,  ptarmigan,  curlew, 
plover,  shore-larks,  migratory  thrushes,  red  spar- 
rows, white-throat  sparrows,  woodpeckers,  kingfishers, 
swallows,  snipes,  bitterns,  sandpipers,  snow-buntings. 


HISTORY   OP   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


65 


cross-bills,  linnets,  jays,  tomtits,  &c. ;  and  among  the 
water  fov;l  geese,  ducks,  loos,  gulls,  puffins,  gul- 
limots,  ana  gannets. 

Q,  What  description  of  fish  abound  on  the 
coast  ? 

A,  Codfish,  salmon,  herring,  (mackerel  have 
forsaken  us  for  28  years,)  caplin,  halibut,  sharks, 
dog-fish,  lobsters,  plaice,  a  small  species  of  crab  (not 
more  than  four  inches  in  diameter),  smelts,  squids, 
lance,  gurnards,  &c.  The  lakes  in  the  interior  con- 
tain myriads  of  trout. 

Q.    Have  we  no  snakes  ? 

A,  Snakes,  toads,  and  frogs,  are  entirely 
unknown. 

Q.     What  insects  have  we  in  Newfoundland  ? 

A,  Butterflies,  moths,  dragon-flies,  cuckoo-flies, 
ants,  caddis-flies,  bees,  wasps,  beetles,  moschetoes, 
and  a  variety  of  others. 

Q     Name  a  few  of  our  indigenous  trees. 

Q,  Pine,  spruce,  and  fir,  compose  the  four-fifths 
of  our  groves,  but  we  have  also  hacmatac,  birch, 
willow,  asp,  mountain-ash,  and  alder. 

Q.     What  are  our  other  vegetable  products  ? 

A,  Savine  or  juniper,  sarsaparilla,  swamp-laurel, 
maiden-hair,  trailing-evergreens,  a  variety  of  mosses, 
dog-roses,  and  a  profusion  of  swcct-smelling  flowers. 

Q.  Repeat  the  names  of  a  few  of  our  wild 
berries. 


I'M-M 


66 


CATECHISM   OP   THE 


A.  Raspberries,  cranberries,  strawberries,  whor- 
tleberries, choke-cherries,  &c. 

Q,     What  mineral  productions  have  we  here  ? 

A.  Coal  in  small  quantities  has  been  found  in 
difFejent  parts  ;  gypsum  abounds  in  one  or  two  local- 
ities ;  beds  of  marble,  lime-stone,  and  roofing-slate, 
are  of  frequent  occurrence,  and  copper  ore  has  been 
discovered  near  the  town  of  St.  John's.  It  is  asserted 
by  some,  that  the  interior  of  the  colony  is  rich  in 
minerals  of  the  most  valuable  character. 


CHAPTEE     XVII. 


MISCELLANEOUS  OBSERVATIONS. 

Q.  What  is  meant  by  the  terms  spring  and  sum- 
mer voyages  ? 

A,  The  seal-fishery  is  termed  the  spring,  and  cod- 
fishery  the  ?"mmer  voyage. 

Q.  How  many  months  are  the  people  engaged  in 
these  voyages  respectively  ? 

A,  In  the  former  about  two  months,  and  in  the 
latter  about  five.  The  one  terminates  about  the  last 
of  April,  the  other  extends  from  June  to  October. 

Q.  How  are  they  occupied  during  the  rest  of  the 
year  ? 


HISTORY    OP   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


67 


A,  Many  of  them  in  clearing  the  land,  drawing 
timber  from  the  woods,  and  building  craft  for  the 
fisheries. 

Q.  What  are  the  diflferent  denominations  of 
trades  in  the  island  ? 

A.  Such  as  are  generally  found  in  all  civilized 
communities,  namely,  —  carpenters,  coopers,  tailors, 
shoemakers,  blacksmiths,  sailmakers,  and  the  like. 

Q.  How  would  you  characterize  the  inhabitants 
of  the  country  ? 

A,  Among  the  industrial  classes,  the  men  are 
intelligent,  athletic,  hardy,  and  enterprising  ;  the 
women,  in  the  main,  thrifty,  fond  of  their  homes,  and 
remarkably  handsome. 

Q.  Of  what  materials  are  the  dwelling-houses 
constructed  ? 

A.  Chiefly  of  w3od,  except  at  St.  John's,  where 
the  principal  streets  are  of  brick  and  stone ;  the 
shops  being  considered  among  the  finest  in  the 
world. 

Q.  From  whence  are  received  the  chief  importa- 
tions ? 

A.  Flour  and  pork  from  the  Unit<3d  States  and 
Canada;  biscuit  and  butter  from  Copenhagen  and 
Hamburg  ;  salt  from  England  and  Spaiu  ;  coal  from 
Cape  Breton  ;  and  dry  goods,  cutlery,  &;c.,  from 
the  United  Kingdom. 

Q.     Are  there  no  native  manufactures  ? 


68 


CATECHISM  OP  THE 


m 


A,     None  of  importance. 

Q,  Would  not  the  establishment  of  these  be  of 
service  to  the  Colony  ? 

A,    Most  decidedly  it  would. 

Q,  On  what,  under  Providence,  depends  the 
future  advancement  of  this  country  ? 

A,  The  industry,  honesty,  and  sobriety  of  the 
working  classes;  the  mutual  forbearance,  charity, 
and  social  concord  of  its  varkus  sects ;  the  proper 
observance  of  the  Sabbath;  the  due  support  of 
religious  and  educational  institutions ;  and  the  good 
example  and  pacriotic  exertions  of  its  leading  men. 


^ 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


69 


GOVERNORS. 


The  following  table  affords  a  correct  account  of  the 
number  of  Governors  from  1749  to  1854,  with  the 
years  of  their  respective  administration  :  —. 

1749  —  Rodney. 
1750  to  1752 —  Drake. 
1753  to  1754  —  BoNFOY. 
1755  to  1756  — DoRRiLL. 
1757  to  1759  —  Edwards. 

1760  — Webb. 
1761  to  1763  — Graves. 
1764  to  1768  — Palliser. 
1769  to  1771  —  Byron. 

1772  to  1774  — Shuldham. 

1775  —  Duff. 
1776  to  1778  —  Montagu. 
1779  to  1781  — Edwards. 
1782  to  1785— Campbell. 
1786  to  1788  —  Elliott. 

1789   to    1791  —  MiLBANK. 

1792  to  1793  — King. 


70 


CATECHISM  OP  THE 


1794 

1797 

1800 
1802 
1804 
1807 
1810 
1813 
1816 
1818 
1825 
1834 
1841 
1847 


to  1796 
to  1799 
to  1801 
to  1803. 
to  1806 
to  1809 
to  1812 
to  1815 
to  1817 
to  1824 
to  1834. 
to  1841. 
to  1846- 
to  1852- 
1853 


Wallace. 
Waldegrave. 
Pole. 
Gambier. 

GOWER. 

Hollo  WAY. 

Duckworth. 

Keats. 

PiCKMORE. 

Hamilton. 

Cochrane. 

Prescott. 

Harvey. 

Le  Marchant. 

Hamilton. 


HISTORY    OP   NEWFOUNDLAND. 


71 


ADDENDA. 


\ 


NATURAL     PHENOMENA. 

Thrush  ( Turdus  migratorim)  arrives April   1 

Shore-lark  {Alauda  alpestris)  first  heard "    20 

Grass  springs May    1 

Codfish  taken "    10 

Potatoes  planted "    10 

Alder  shooting  leaves "    20 

Dandelion  flowered June   1 

Willow  Catkins  out "    16 

Young  Thrushes  hatched , "    20 

Caplin  ((S,  arct  Lin.)  arrive  and  spawn "    23 

Cherry  trees  in  blossom "    30 

Butterflies  (white)  deposit  eggs "    30 

Green  pease July  20 

House-flies  numerous "    25 

Caplin  depart "    25 

Squids  {Sep.  lol.)  appear August  1 

Hay-making  commences "      10 

Rove-beetles  {Staph,  vill.)  fly  in  swarms "      15 

Cherries  ripe September  15 

Leaves  of  the  Burch  tree  fade "        30 

Thrushes  migrate  southwards "        30 

Potatoes  dug  up October  6 

Red  berries  of  the  mountain  ash  {Sorbus  auci^ria) 

ripe "       20 

First  snow  showers "      31 


72 


HISTORY    OP    NEWFOUNDLAND. 


Snow-buntings  appear October  31 

Indian  summer November  15 

Frost  and  snow  permanent  for  the  season December  10 


Mean  Temperature  of  the  months,  in  latitude  47°  33' 
22^^N.•,  longitude  52©  45/  29^/,  W.:  — 


January. .  .22.7  deg. 
February..  19.5    " 
March  ....24.0    " 
April 33.8    " 


May 37.5  deg. 

June 49.8    " 

Julv 57.4    " 

Augue^t .  ..54.0    " 


September  53.5  deg. 
October... 44.2   " 
November. 33.9   " 
December. 28.5   " 


Times  of  High  Water  at  sundry  places  on  the  coast, 
at  the  Full  and  Change  of  the  Moon  —  together  with  the  verti- 
cal rise  of  the  tide,  at  Spring  Tides :  — 

Croque  Harbor, 6h.  30m.  6^  feet. 

Ferrolle, 11     45 

Fort  St.  John, 9     00 

St.  John's,  (capital), .7     50  5 

St.  Peter's, 9     00  7 

Placentia  Harbor, 9      15  8 

Harbor    Grace,    (determined    by    the 

author,  in  1849,) 8     35  8 

Pistolet, 6     45  5 


I 


It  is  remarkable  that  the  principal  shipwrecks  which  have 
occurred  at  St.  Shotts,  on  the  southern  coast  of  the  Island, 
have  happened  on  or  about  the  time  of  the  Spring  tides.  Hence 
it  has  been  inferred  that  the  current  runs  faster  there  at  those 
epochs  than  it  does  during  the  intervening  times ;  a  circum- 
stance thai  ought  to  be  made  the  sid)Ject  of  direct  obset^ation. 


